The Press. — London, England, 1855-10-06 00:00:00

THE WEEK. THE telegraphic despatches from the camp this week have been few in number and meagre in detail. Marshal PELIssIER has declared that he will not gratify Parisian curiosity upon every occasion, and Lord PAN MURE has had a fit of the gout, which probably absorbed the little communicativeness his disposition possesses. The French Marshal, however, imposing silence on himself only when he had nothing brilliant to relate, sent home a message on Frilay, informing us that a gallant cavalry action had taken place outside Eupatoria, in which the Russians had been defeated with the loss of 150 men killed and prisoners, 250 horses, and six guns—almost the first guns captured in the field, for the Russians have hitherto proved too tenacious of their artillery for us to win many. Such an action, five leagues from the town, corroborates Prince GORTSCHAKOFF'S despatch of the 26th, that " a considerable force of the enemy, estimated at 35,000 men, had de " bouched from Eupatoria ;" and bears out his previous despatch of the 23rd, that the allied fleets had sailed from Kamiesch with a strong force on board. General SIMPSON kas been promoted to the rank of full general, but the Government do not appear to consider that pro motion an equivalent for the command. Lord PANMIIRE has not the resolution to recal him, and seems to trust in the repeated attacks of the Times to induce the Gallant General voluntarily to resign his command. Generals MARKHAM and BENTINCK are about to return home. In the absence of any better information, a letter from Kamiesch, dated the 22nd, published in the Moniteur of Thursday, states that the utmost energy and activity reigned at that port, that cavalry, infantry, and artillery, were embarking on board the fleet, and the highest spirit existed in the army at the prospect of field operations. The letters from the camp which have been received during the week, both p üblic and private, contain many details connected with the attack upon the Redan ; it appears very questionable whether any force could have sustained itself against the terrible cross fire with which the Russians swept the salient angle of the place. Our men did as much as could have been expected from them, but their columns of attack were weak, they were left unsupported for a long and trying period. and when they gave way there were not very many of them left to retreat. About 3,000 men only went into action, and out of them 2,447 were killed, wounded, and missing. General NIEL, in his admirable report, when stating his reasons for assaulting the Malakoff, adds, " that the pos "session of that fort would lead to decisive results, while success oh " tamed elsewhere could not lead to great result?," and that to " insure success," as soon as a footing in the Malakoff was obtained, "the " English were to attack the Redan, so as to prevent the enemy con centrating all his efforts against the troops that should have already " taken possession of the Malakoff." From these words an inference may be easily drawn, that perhaps, after all, the attack upon the Redan was felt to be only capable of being considered a diversion ; and if such were the case, the weakness of the assaulting columns, the absence of supports, and the coolness of those in high command, as if resigned to a certain loss of life, may be readily accounted for. Of the probable operations of the allied forces, every possible con jecture has been in print this week. One thing seems to be certain, that whatever operations are undertaken the British army is to remain at Sebastopol and take care of the camp The French take the field, but in what direction it is impossible to say. To storm the Inkermann heights is supposed to be an impossibility, and to turn the positions of the Russians impracticable from that side, though a road is spoken of as having been discovered from the valley of Baidar to Batchki- Semi practicable for cavalry and light field•guns, and hence an attack from Eupatoria, and an advance from the valley of Baidar may be imminent. The Morning Post—which is generally well informed on these points—assures us that we are on the verge of most important events, and that a few days may probably bring intelligence of great moment. It is undeniable, that whatever the allied Generals attempt must be done speedily—in a week or ten days from this date—as already the weather—capriciously fine or bitter cold, with drenching rains—gives warning that winter will soon be at hand. On their side the Russians appear to be concentrating all their disposable forces upon the Inkermann heights. General WRANGEL has been called up, a strong reserve is collected at Perekop, and it is said that the command of the army will he given to MOURAVIEFF, GORTSCHA ECM accepting the portfolio of Minister of War, in room of Prince DowortoOKY For the Allies, reinforcements of all arms are daily leaving France ; three thousand more men for the Sardinian Contingent are now leaving Genoa. and six thousand troops, including 2,400 of the Foreign Legion, have been ordered from our home depots. Everything speaks of a conti• nuance of the war. The Black Sea fleet is at last awakening from its torpidity, a strong force is blockading Odessa. and an expedition up to Cherson is talked of, from which we may infer that it will be put in prao ir, • 1u the course of next year. the Emperor ALEXANDER is at Nicolaieff, and it is stated, with some show of authority, that he will cross Perekop, and visit his army at Simferopol. The advance of the French cavalry on the direct line of road will probably prevent his Majesty from putting this project in .0 execution. SATURDAY, The conduct of Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE has created a lively sensation all over Europe, and particularly in Paris. The French papers teem with remarks upon the subject. The Univers declares that the British Cabinet has completely disapproved of the behaviour of its Ambassador. The Dibats does not assert so much, but denomi nates it a " delicate subject," and supposes that Lord REDCLIFFE feeling his influence over the Sultan on the wane, determined by a vigorous effort to regain that personal ascendancy which the Sultan had thrown off, and then with an air of mystery concludes that it is generally believed Lord STRATFORD would speedily be replaced by Lord ELGIN. The Patrie agrees with the Univers, and congratulates itself that the marked disapproval of the British Government of its Ambassador's proceedings was " a further proof of the souud judgment evinced by " the English Cabinet in the affairs of the East." The Paris corre spondent of the Morning Post declares that— Lord Stratford has thought proper to depart from his legitimate office of a friendly adviser to the Porte, and assumed the tone of dictator. He tells the Sultan that Mehemet Ali must not hold office ! The Sultan is indignant, and Lord Stratford is obstinate. Lord Clarendon cannot approve of the conduct of his agent, and at present it appears more than probable that the country will lose the services of an able repre sentative at a most important embassy ; while the Paris correspondent of the Times quotes a letter from Constanti nople, in which Lord STRATFORD'S conduct is reprobated in the severest terms, and the correspondent of that journal at Vienna, under date of the Ist, asserts positively that Lord REDOLIFFE is recalled. The secret of all this seems to be that Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE, after a residence in Constantinople beyond " the memory of the oldest inhabitant," is to be sacrificed to considerations of expediency. M. THOUVENEL—RS some experienced persons predicted as soon as his appointment was known—has proved a more polite and subtle diplo matist. If, however, our veteran Ambassador is to be recalled, the act will be regarded in the East as of some political importance. Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE, from his intimate knowledge of all Turkish subjects and personages, from the energy of his character, and his lengthened mission, is viewed in the East as the represen tative of British influence, and his fall at this moment will assuredly give the impression that the power of England in the Councils of the Divan has declined. It is remarkable that while the French papers have freely speculated on this important matter, our leading journals have been silent on it. The late promotion of two veteran Generals, Viscount Com- BERMERE and Lord STRAFFORD to the distinguished rank of Field- Marshal, has excited much remark. In the presence of such a gigantic war as is now raging in the Crimea, it seems slightly out of place to promote officers for distinguished services in a war which has been concluded exactly forty years. As a parallel case, let us suppose Generals MARKHAM or EYRE, now highly distinguishing themselves in the Crimea, receiving their reward fifty years hence, in the days of our grandchildren ! In the case of Lord HARDINGE, his services include a later date, but for his companions of the baton, it does look like the height of absurdity to push the German proverb, " Better late than never," to such a laughable extent. The Baltic fleet is gradually retiring, ships one by one daily arrive at the home ports, and the entire French squadron is expected shortly at Cherbourg. Despatches via Hamburg, of the 3rd of October, state that a small squadron ran up the Gulf of Riga, and enjoyed a few hours' parting bombardment of the forts, though, it is assertel, without doing them much injury. Where is the use of such partial petty enterprises, except to point out to the enemy the weak part of their fortifications? If Riga is to be bombarded, why does not Admiral DUNDAS go in with the fleet, and do the work in a thorough manner ? We see that the Baltic correspondent of the Times at length admits that the Sweaborg batteries were left intact after the bombard ment, and regrets that nothing more was done upon that occasion, in a tone which indicates that much more was practicable. Mr. AUGUSTUS STAFFORD, M.P., whose humane and courageous con duct on board her Majesty's steamer Etna, when conveying French troops from Marseilles to the Crimea, and amongst whom the cholera broke out, has met with a warm-hearted, grateful response from the officers and men of the regiment. On his leaving the ship at Con stantinople, two addresses were presented to him from the officers and men, expressing on the part of the first sentiments of the highest esteem and profound gratitude for his noble conduct, and on the part of the men the most touching expressions of gratitude. " The pen," says the address, "is powerless to express the sentiments your noble " devotedness has inspired us with. Never, never shall the thought "of you be effaced from our hearts." Mr. STAFFORD may well be proud of such tributes to his noble humanity. The war in Asia by turns languishes or burns up with a bright flame. MOURAVIEFF, after a brilliant dash upon Kars, and as bril liant a repulses, has contented himself for the last two months with a simple but strict blockade of the town, The garrison was numerous the lines of Calandretti strong, and an English General was there to infuse spirit into the soldiers; but starvation would reduce any town, and Kars runs a good chance of meeting that fate. The Turkish Government for weeks have neglected to send troops to the spot, and the town is evidently on the verge of capture. It was attacked fierct ly on the 27th tilt by the Russians, who were bravely repulsed ; but that is probably the last effort of the heroic garrison. Om ER PACRA had arrived at Batoum, and was making preparations for an advance, but his troops were sickly, the weather was threatening, and it is mote than probable that, like the man in the lible, he will be just in time to be too late, THE PRESS. 952