The Press. — London, England, 1855-03-17 00:00:00

MARCH 17, 1855. THE WAR. THE latest news from the Crimea is of the Sth inst. received in Constantinople. There had been no movement of importance among the allied armies during the last few days. The French bad, however, employed a new description of rocket, many of which were discharged with great effect into Sebastopol, where they had produced several conflagrations. General Foray is recalled to France. It is stated that the Russian army in the Crimea is much demo ralised. At Constantinople the death of the Czar had been announced, and occasioned a great sen sation. Despatohes to the 4th have been received in Paris from Admiral Bruck and the camp. The preparations for the bombardment were guing on with great activity. The weather was good, and the health of the troops much improved. On the 3rd the railway was finished from Bala klava half-way to the camp, and was used for the transport of ammunition and stores. It was ex pected to be complete by the 14th inst. The deaths in Scutari hospital were much diminished at the date of these reports. The position of Balaklava had been strengthened. The Journal de Constantinople gives details of the fight which took place on the 24th of February before Sebastopol. A battalion of Zouaves carried by as• sault the plateau of Malakoff -tower, spiked eighteen guns, and drove the enemy out of their trenches, re • tiring ultimately before a body of 8,000 Russians. In this heroic struggle 980 French were put hors de combat. General Monet was wounded in both arms. The Presse of Constantinople estimates the Rus sian loss at 1,000, and reduces the French loss to 250. Some journals say that General Monet re ceived five slight wounds while dispersing a Russian column, which attempted to cut off his retreat. The Vienna papers are informed by telegraph that a Russian army of observation is to be stationed at Orta Ablan, on the high road from Simferopol to Perekop, for the purpose of watching the Turks at Eupatoria. The following despatch has been received : Before Sebastopol, March :3,1855. My Lord,—Some more ships are said to have been sunk since I wrote to your lordship on the 27th. lam not cer tain of this; but., according to my observation, the new barrier across the harbour appeared yesterday evening to have been extended beyond the point at which I had seen it two days before. The enemy is busily occupied in establishing a work considerably nearer the French batteries on the extreme right than that which was attacked by our allies ou the morning of the 24th. The enemy seem to be increasing their force in the neighbourhood of Sebastopol, both to the northward and upon the Tachernaya. The railway continues to progress satisfactorily, and we already make considerable use of it in the conveyance of stores, hutting materials, dm, as far as liadikoi; and the electric telegraph is completed between that village and my head-quarters. The weather has again become extremely cold, and there was a fall of snow yesterday, and some little this morning. —I have, dc., RAGLAN. CHRONICLE OF THE SIEGE. ------- Letters from the camp to the 3rd instant reached London yesterday, but they report few incidents of any interest. The following passages are extracted from the correspondence of the Herald : Both allies and Russians are evidently straining every nerve for a final struggle. Every day, and all through the day, numbers of the enemy's troops are incessantly em ployed in their earthworks, and seem not only to be pre paring measures for a vigorous defence, but actually for advancing, as if to beseige us in our own parallels. There are still no signs of any attempt to cleanse the camp ground—another month and it will be too late. The weather has again changed for the better; it is cold, with very sharp north-east winds, but dry and sunny. Lord Raglan now is frequently seen riding through the different parts of the camp. As much fresh meat and vegetables as can be procured are now served to the men two or three times a week, and the beneficial effects of this change of diet are becoming every day more and more apparent. Scurvy is fast dimi nishing, though fever is rather more rife than could be wished for at present. It would appear, beyond doubt, that the Russians still display, in spite of the Emperor's ukase, the same cowardly ferocity which at Inkermann rendered their name odious throughout Europe. Most of the bayonet wounds were given to the poor Zouaves and their brave officers, after they had been already wounded and disabled by musket-shots. Our men know this as well as the French, and store up the bitter recollection in their hearts against the day when we shall again meet the enemy in battle. Nn matter what orders may he issued by the allied gene. rids, I am certain the enemy will now meet with very little quarter from our troops. Every one still seems confident as to the results which will attend our reopened fire. It is intended to concen trate the fire of certain batteries upon one or two weak points in the enemy's defences until the guns in them him been dismounted, and the abhattis round them de. strayed% io strut this Nish long VA Vfiil Are 10') muds THE PRESS. of shot and shell per day, and each mortar fifty rounds of shell every twelve hours. The mortars will fire all through the night to prevent the enemy repairing the damages which have been caused during the day's bombardment — the long guns will only fire during the daylight. Field pieces, small howitzers, and cohorns will be used in our most advanced works for the destruction of the stockades and abbattis. Storming parties will be told off to attack each battery as soon as silenced. With the new batteries lately thrown up the English will open fire with about 150 guns, and the French with nearly 200. The 10th or Ilth of March are spoken of as the dates on which it is moat probable we shall recommence our attack. In spite of these assertions, which are repeated from all points, I still find no reason to alter the conjecture made two days since, that it would be towards the end of March or beginning of April before our attack commences. THE PATRIOTIC FUND. THE fund now reaches above the sum of 1,000,0001. The last return from the Royal Commissioners was nearly 000,0001., in which list of contributions were the following sums :-10,0001. from Leeds, (first in • stalment),s,ooo/. from Bombay (ditto), and 5,0001. from Calcutta (ditto). To this fund has yet to be added the City subscriptions from the different wards, dm., which at present exceed 90,0001. Several metro politan parishes also have not yet forwarded their lists of contributions. The Cape Town Mail of the 27th of January says that the treasurer of the Patiiotio Fund had already in hand 1,4001., the first fruits of Cape Town alone, and that collections were still going on. The committee of the fund established in 1803, and know as Lloyd's Patriotic Fund, have notified that, in consequence of the subscriptions under the Royal Patriotic Fund being limited to the relief of widows and orphans of those dying on active service during the present war, they have resolved to apply the means remaining in their hands to other classes of sufferers. They will therefore give gratuities to soldiers, seamen, and marines disabled from wounds, and discharged the service in consequence, and also to such relatives (not widows or orphans) as depended for support on those killed in action. The total held by the committee is valued at about 88,0001., subject to the payment of some annuities amounting to 1,0001. per annum. They have also certain rights of nomination to the Royal Naval Asylum and Schools. It has been proposed to form a collection of works of art by artists and amateurs, to be given for the purposes of sale and exhibition, the whole proceeds to be applied to the relief of widows and orphans of British officers who may fall in the war with Russia. The plan has been taken up with great spirit in aris tocratic circles. MISS STANLEY AT KULLELI. WE take the following letter from the Chester Courant. The writer is Miss Stanley, daughter of the Bishop of Norwich, and the letter was addressed to the sister of a poor soldier, by name Astle, who came from Macclesfield : Kalelli Hospital, Feb. 7, 1855. Ellen Astle,--I came out here with a great many nurses and ladies, to help to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers of our army, and I came to this new hospital about a week ago. On Monday last, the sth, T was going round the wards to feed those who could not feed themselves. There was one poor man who looked very bad indeed. I went up to his bedstead ; I asked if I could write to his friends at home. He said he should be grateful, and then he told me he came from Macclesfield. It was your brother; he gave me your direction, and asked me to write to you, and you would tell the rest of his family that he was very ill, but he hoped to get better soon. I told him how my name was St alley, and that my native place was Alderley, and that I felt we were like neighbours. He begged I would tell you of my being here and seeing him, and he said "if it was only a cat from the place you loved, you would be pleased to see it." He seemed much pleased to talk with me over the places he and I knew so well—Prestliry, Broken Cross, Ablerley Edge, the Black Greyhound, Wilmslow. I hoped to be able to see him often, and be a comfort to him. I sent the clergyman to see him in the evening, and he found him very grateful to have words spoken to him about his immortal soul. What the impression left by those words was, none will ever know: but we humbly hope they were blessed. When I went the next morning, your dear brother was at peace. He breathed his last in his sleep, without pain. I felt thankful to have seen him, and so to be able to give you this short account. He is laid with his gallant comrades in a newly-made burying-ground on the side of the hill which rises above the hospital. It is a beautiful, peaceful spot, and it may be a comfort to you to know that his last hour was not on the battle-field, or in the cold trenches. I would say to you what the good chaplain here said to a poor soldier's widow as she took her last sorrowing glance into her husband's grave this afternoon when the service was ended. He bid her not mourn, as those who have no hope, for that her husband had died in the faith of Christ. He bid her carry away in her heart the blessed words he had just read over the grave :—" I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord. He that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live." He bid her follow on to know Christ, and through Him to be enabled to join her husband in glory hereafter. I f•el I can give you no words more comforting than these, May God bless them to you, and eoinfort you in this par great agigtioia, 251 Let me hear if you receive this letter, and direct your answer to Miss Stanley, (I, Grosvenor crescent, London, from whence it will be forwarded to me.—Your sincere friend, To Miss Ellen Artie, M. STANLEY. Macclesfield. LAST HOURS OF THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS. [From the St. Petersburg journals, and from many letters from that capital, we are ptaoed in possession of full particulars of the illness and death of the late Czar. The following it sent us by a correspondent in °mum.) THE Emperor Nicholas had been ailing since the 14th of February, and, notwithstanding the repeated caution of his plijsicians, took so little care of him- self that he was present at a review, remaining sta tionary, on a piercing cold day, for three hours, and from which he returned shivering and with fever. The attack gradually increased. On the 24th he was unable to participate in the religious rites of the Greek Church, with the different members of the Imperial family, according to his usual practice. From this time he grew rapidly worse; on the let of March he became delirious—with an incessant cough that totally prevented sleep. The Empress, who never quitted him, earnestly desired to sit up the night. This the Emperor would not permit, ou account of her weak state of health, but said, " Lot us pray together for the last time in the words com manded by Christ." When the Empress repeated, " Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,' the Emperor lifted up his joined hands, exclaiming firmly," Yea, ever—ever and ever." On Friday, the 2nd, at three in the morning, he confessed, and received the sacrament in the presence of th.lmperial family. At the conclusion lie prayed, " May God receive my soul "—" In to domine speravi." The Empress was much affected, and, although weak and sinking, the Emperor consoled her in calm yet tender language, that evidenced his firm composure and the command he had over himself at this trying moment. He de sired his most intimate friends to be introduced — spoke to them affectionately, and took leave of Count Orloff, Count Adlenburg, and Prince Dolgorouki. The servants of the household were then summoned, and the old grenadiers of the body guard—to all of whom he spoke kindly, and with thanks for their fidelity and attachment. To Madame ltourbeck, first lady of the bedchamber to the Empress, he ex pressed his gratitude for her unremitting attention to the Empress during her last illness—" Soyez pour elle a l'avenir ce que vous avez ate demon vivant, et saluez mon beau l'eterhof la premiere fois que vous y irez avec elle." The ceremonies to be observed at his funeral were then minutely ordered, and he himself dictated the telegraphic dispatch to Moscow and Wat saw an nouncing the fact of his being at the point of death. Whilst he was giving these directions the son of Prince Menschikoff arrived from Sebastopol with letters. The Czar declined to receive them, adding— "Ce la pourrait it me rattacher a la terra?" At eleven his voice became indistinct, and his breathing difficult; at twelve his articulation was plainer. The last words to the Cesarewitch were to convey !Us thanks to the army before Sebastopol; and then, turning to the Empress, he enjoined her to urge his dying request to the King of Prussia, her brother, to be the protector of the Imperial family, to he faithful in the continuance of a friendly policy to wards Russia, and to bear in mind constantly and reverentially the testamentary words of his father, Frederick William III.—" Puissent la Prusse, la Russia et I'Autriche ne jamais se separer, leur union est la sauve garde de la pail Europeenne." In a, quarter of an hour afterwards be breathed his last, calmly, and without pain. The body was placed on a camp bed, and covered with a military cloak. In his domestic circle the late Emperor was most affectionate. None of his children or grandchildren ever addressed him by the title of " Sire" or" your Majesty ;" all etiquette was banished, sod he lived with his family on terms of the most simple and na tural familiarity. The Grand Duchess Marie of Lenctenberg appeared to be, and was, no doubt, his favorite child. For her he bad few reservations, and when most harassed by official business or unfa vorable intelligence, generally repaired to her apart ments for relief and consultation. When in the palace, he never missed being present at her chil dren's dinner—a mark of regard that was not he stowed upon any other member of the Imperial family. The body of the Emperor was placed " k fare decouverte" in the Chapelle Ardente, where it will remain until the day of the funeral. The repo rt of a rapid decomposition is utterly wi thout founda tion. THE FOUR VACANT COLONELCIEs have been filled np by the transfer of Sir George Brown from the 7th Fusiliers to his old corps, the Rifle Brigade; of Lieutenant- General Auchmuty, from the 05th to the 7th Fusiliers, with whom he served in the Peninsula ; and of Lieutenant-General the Hon. H. E. Butler, from the 94th to the 55th, the regiment in which his gallant son, who was /tilled et Inkertnann, cotutnanclial eonspasp I