The Press. — London, England, 1855-06-16 00:00:00

THE BALTIC FLEET. (From a Correspondent.) MAY 29.—Nothing new to.day. Occasional prizes (such as they are) arrive, generally consisting of wretched coasting vessels laden with wood. We take the wood On board to use in lieu of coal, and generally make targets of the vessels. Their crews almost always escape in their small boats, and our cruisers never trouble themselves about them. The Magieienne captured five large boats laden with granite, every block being eat and numbered, bound to Cronstadt. This, though the granite is of no value, is important, as they have no stone at Cronstadt, getting their supplies from some distance down the gulf. MAY 30.—Cosilaek and Esk arrived from their cruising-ground off Hango, and report that all the troops are withdrawn from that neighbourhood to Sweaborg. There is very good anchorage close to the shore there, which, now that our troublesome friends have taken their departure, will doubtless be made use of by our cruisers. MAY 31.—At ten o'clock this morning the fleet weighed, and steamed in line abreast towards Cron stadt. At three anchored three miles west of Tol buchni lighthouse, about seven miles from the harbour and forts. The admiral immediately after our anchoring went on board Merlin, accompanied by Admiral Seymour and their respective staffs, and proceeded towards this celebrated Russian strong hold to reconnoitre, the Euryalus, Magicienne, and Dragon accompanying them as an escort. On their return we found that they had approached the forts to the distance of 3,000 yards, and had obtained a good view of the position which is expected by onr over-sanguine friends in England to be forced by the fleet. It is clear that on account of the narrowness of th 6 passage only one line-of battle ship could pass through at a time into the harbour of Cronstadt, and every ship as she passed would have to run the gauntlet of about 1,200 guns, each of which, from the scientific arrangements, are prepare L for our reception, and would in all probability have effect. Allowing, however, for the sake of argument, that the speed of our steam line of-battle ships, backed by the cool determination of their captains, enabled them to gain the harbour where the shipping (the object of our attack) lay, they would find themselves, as it were, in a basin surrounded by casemated batteries pointed into its centre, heavily backed by the guns of twenty five line of-battle ships, who would throw a raking fire into our advancing vessels. It would be a great stretch of imagination to presume that they would gain their object and destroy the Baltic fleet ; brit, supposing they had done so, they must return as they came in, under a galling fire. I trust I have been sufficiently explicit to show, even to people unacquainted with naval tactics, how utterly impracticable to ships this place heas been made—at all events, by the usual entrance. There is some idea that we might shell the fleet from the north side of the island, but the shallowness of the water in this case becomes the difficulty. To-morrow the admiral is to have a look in that direction, so that he may judge for himself as to the practicability of this scheme. By a refer ence to the chart you will, perhaps, more fully understand what I wish to convey to you regarding Cronstadt generally, and our hopes and fears as to attacking it. JUNE I.—The admirals with their numerous staffs returned from their reconnoitring tour to the north of the island this evening. Of course, it is impossi ble to know what opinion they have formed, but it is whispered that they deeply feel the want of mortar vessels, floating batteries, gun-boats, &c., which we have been all given to understand were to have made their appearance long ere this. Now there is no cholera, and the weather is charming. Next month who can say to what extent the cholera may rage, or to what scorching heat our attacking parties may be exposed? Three French screw line of-battle ships under Admiral Penaud (a man who has made for himself a name as a gallant and enterprising officer) arrived here this evening, anti the usual salutes and ceremonies passed between the English and French ch"efs. The French liners are named the Tourville (ft kg), the Austerlitz (90), and the Duquesne (90), wi ti a screw-corvette. JUNE 2.—The English and French admirals have bo h gone in to-day, so perhaps there is an idea of trying something; but we want our vessels of light draught. Bulldog arrived from Faro to-day. JUNE 3.—The commanders-in-chief returned last night, having been employed all day in surveying and otherwise reconnoitring the north side—in fact, t ley were well in range of the enemy's guns, who, however, not knowing the illustrious personages who were so daringly exposing themselves f did not (=descend to fire at them. The weather here is THE PRESS. most beautiful. I can only compare it to cool weather in the tropics ; not a breath of air stirs the waters during the daytime; and the light evening and morning breezes are charged with delicious odours which make all long for a run on shore. Our blockading squadron in the Gulf of Riga are still watching for prizes ; they consist of Geyser, Archer, and Basilisk. The hospital ship Belleisle has arrived at Faro, where she is to be stationed. Pylades has just come in sight with three or four gun-boats in tow. We are anxiously expecting the Volcano with other gun-boats. A despatch dated Nyborg, June 13, states :—" Her Majesty's steam frigate Retribution, 28, carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Baynes, has arrived in the Belt, with the 80 gun screw blockships Hawke, Cornwallis, Hastings, Pembroke, Russell, and nine gun boats. The squadron is at anchor at Knudshead. The French sailing-frigate Isis, 36, Captain Cleret, ar rived at Kiel on Wednesday." PARIS AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION. THE cattle-show in the Champ de Mars terminated on Saturday last by the sale by auction of the animals exhibited. The exhibition, the second of the kind held in Paris, has been much better attended than that of last year. The company was every day com posed principally of country people, but, notwith standing the distance of the locality from the centre of Paris, there were a good many Parisians, and it is expected that in two or three years this show will be come a national institution in every sense of the word. The French country gentlemen and breeders have expressed almost boundless admiration at the excellence of the English animals, and freely con cede the palm to them. They antizipate immense advantages from the greater attention to breeding which these exhibitions are calculated to bring about. During the auction there were many expressions of regret at the low prices at which splendid English bulls and rams were sold, and fears were expressed that the English would be so dissatisfied with the sale that they would not readily send their cattle next year. The English exhibitors have, however, every reason to be proud of their harvest of honour and glory. Among the prizes awarded to the owners of the bulls of the Durham race, brought from England for exhibition, Lord Feversham obtained the first prize of 1,000 f.; Mr. Crisp, of Hawkhill, the second of 0001 ; Lord Talbot de Malahide, the third of 800 f.; Prince Albert, the fourth of 500 f. Lord Berwick obtained the first prize of I,ooof. for bulls of the Hereford hreed ; Lord Talbot for those of the Ayr shire breed ; and Mr. Turner of Exeter fur the Devon. Mr. Webb, the owner of the South Downs that excited the ecstatic admiration of the French breeders, received a complete ovation. The jury, not content with awarding him two prizes (the utmost that the rules allowed), and thirty " honourable mentions," gave him a large gold medal, as an ex traordinary testimony of their admiration of the beauty of his animals. At the same time it must not be supposed that the French are mean competitors. There were magnificent specimens of the Charolais, Flamande, Normande, and Cotentin races, as well as ot successful crosses with English breeds. But the French cattle are apt to be long-legged and bony, showing traces of that breeding which has in view the plough as well as the slaughter-house. The exqui site perfection of some of the Herefords and Durhams is not to be seen in the French pens. In sheep the superiority of the English breeds is by universal con sent still more remarkable. THE Hamburg News contains a letter from St. Petersburg, which says :—" Captain Vernlow lately made his appearance in the drawing•rooms of the capital, and has excited much attention from the fact that, although he is only 23 years of age, he has 24 years of service. First, he has been eight years in the army ; second, he has served six months at Se bastopol, and as, according to an order of the Emperor Nicholas, each month's service there is to count as a year, his six months are equivalent to six years, which give fourteen years in all; third, he wears the Order of St. Anne, and of Vladimir, the Cross of the Order of St. George, and has a sabre of honour, which reckon for ten years more ; and in that way he makes up the twenty-four years. Strange to say, although this officer has been in twelve sorties, he has never received a wound." THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT requests the directors of the railways in the empire to plant young trees of a description indicated, at convenient distances along the lines, intending them to replace eventually the posts upon which telegraphic wires are at present affixed. AN official announcement in the Journal de St. Petersbourg states that between the 12th and 28th ult., upwards of 59,115 silver roubles, besides various medical and surgical appliances, were placed to the account of the Empress of Russia, on behalf of the wounded at Sebastopol. The subscriptions are chiefly made by members of the Imperial family. *ATURbiIt, Int* gorrtsponbtatt. FRANKrouT, June le. THE speech of Lord Palmerston at the closing of the debate in the House of Commons on the amendment of Sir F. Baring is accepted in Germany and at the Diet as a plain declaration that no terms of peace will be listened to until Sebastopol be taken, and that the Crimea, being once in the possession of France and England, will not be restored to Russia. It was to save Russia from this mortification that Austria proffered her amicable interference; it was to preserve her own position, now lost as a primary power, that the Camarilla plotted to betray the allies, by inveigling them into a peace. The knights and princes can now afford to beard Austria and scruple not to tell Prussia at the Diet that the Czar is their avowed protector. Such has been the result of the treachery and duplicity of Prussia and Austria. It has reacted against themselves. The imperial crown for Prussia, and the attempted extension of the Austrian empire, have been failures. This new bearing—this defeat of the Hapsburg and Hohenzollern factions—is the work, and the sole work, of Mr. Disraeli. In bringing forward his original motion he placed Lord Palmerston in a dilemma with his Cabinet. Lord John Russell, on his circuitous road to Vienna, despatched the mes sage "Le mot d'ordre, c'est la paix." What will become of this versatile Minister? Either he will be dismissed from office, or Lord Palmerston will be beaten sooner or later. The general feeling of dis trust and dislike continentally feh - , and expressed for the Secretary of the Colonies cannot be otherwise than damaging to the Ministry, and for this the people in England have to thank Mr. Disraeli. At last Lord John Russell and Sir William Molesworth have insulted and betrayed that Chesham-place party which maintained the first and introduced the second to place and power. Meanwhile the greatest activity prevails amongst the petty Courts of the Con federation. The princes laugh at the anger of Prussia, insult the petition "ad misericordiam " of Austria, button up their pockets, which have been well filled by M. de Benkendorf, the nephew of the Princess Lieven, and they aid not the course of events. J. E. L. Jordon 10 6olonial GERMANY. It is said that the Emperor of Austria will have an interview with the King of Prussia in the course of a few days, at Gallicia, where his Imperial Majesty goes to inspect the 4th division of the Austrian army. The two chief Governments of Germany are endea vouring to arrive at an understanding upon which a common line of action may be established. It is said that the army will be reduced by 100,000 men. Considerable drafts have already been made from the corps d'armie of Gallicia. ITALY. A telegraphic despatch of the llth, received from Rome, announces that an attempt had been made to assassinate Cardinal Antonelli, Secretary of State to the Pope. His Eminence sustained no injury, and the assassin was immediately seized, and placed in sate custody. A decree of the King of Piedmont has indicated the religious orders of men and women which are to be suppressed. The number is considerable : 334 monasteries will dissapear ; they contain a popula tion of 5,598 persons. Among these monasteries, 289 were inhabited by 4,125 monks, and 45 by 1,473 nuns. In the orders still preserved there remain 863 monks and 1,899 nuns. The monks and nuns who belong to the orders suppressed will receive for life a pension of 500 f. SPAIN. Notwithstanding the statements of the journals about the suppression of the insurrection, it does not appear to have been so effectual as they would hays the world believe. Even as late as the 11th instant a band of seventy unarmed men formed near Pampe luna, and was about to proceed to France to procure arms. The Queen's troops quickly following in pur suit, the rebels fled, crossed the frontier, and took refuge in France. An insurrection in Catalonia was also apprehended. The Government has entered into a contract with the Bank of St. Ferdinand for the payment of the half years' interest on the foreign debt. A letter from Rome of the 2nd in the Univers says that the Pope, who has already protested against the sale of ecclesiastical property in Spain, is about to interrupt all diplomatic intercourse with that country'. PORTUGAL. It is reported that Portugal is on the eve of en tering into the Western alliance, which will be ratified