The Press. — London, England, 1855-04-21 00:00:00

Anti, 21, 1855. There have been violent storms in the Black Sea. Six brigs, Turkish and Wallachian, have been wrecked even in the roadstead of Varna. RUSSIA. The Grand Duke Constantine returned on the 3rd to St. Petersburg from his tour of inspection of the maritime establishments on the Baltic. The three divisions of the Russian fleet, those at Cronstadt, Bweaborg, and Revel, are said to be perfectly manned Ind able to keep the sea. The German journals announce that two camps, each of 30,000 men, have been established, the one between Mittau and Riga, the other between Revel and Nerve. These constitute the lesser portion only of the Russian forces destined for operations in the Russian provinces of the Baltic for the entire army amounts to 140,000 men, of which a consider able mass will be cavalry, re ady to proceed rapidly wherever the allies may attempt a disembarkation. This army will have been completed chiefly by means of a recent levy (the fourth in fifteen months) which has been carried out in Poland in the most expedi tious manner. In the middle of the night, and with out any previous warning, the recruiting parties, without other form of process, opened, or caused to be opened, the doors of houses, and carried off the men who were judged fit to carry the Russian musket conveniently. This levy has given 18,000 men. Official reports published in St. Petersburg on the sth, state that 150,000 of the new militia of the em pire have already been organised. These men are not available, except for the defence of their own homes. UNITED STATES. New York dates of the 4th have been received by the At lantic steamer. Much excitement has been occasioned in the States by the alleged discovery that men were being enlisted for the British army. It was stated that five hundred recruits had been raised in Philadelphia. Ffteen men were arrested in that city just as they were leaving on board a steamboat for New York. About fifty passengers left Boston On board a brig bound for Halifax, and it was gene rally believed that they were recruits for the British servioe, but the agent of the vessel affirmed that they were engaged as railway labourers. A person named J. R. Bucknall, said to he an officer of the British army, was arrested in New York by the authorities, and conveyed to Philadelphia to answer a 21targe of enlisting peasons to serve in the allied armies against Russia. Mr. Bucknall represented himself as an engineer, and states that he was engaged in • nploying men to work on railroads in Texas. A savage riot occurred at the election in Cincin nati, on the 2nd instant, between the foreigners and Americans. The ballot-boxes were destroyed at the outset; and whether the Know-Nothings or the "Sagnicht " party elected their candidates, cculd not be ascertained. Several serious fights took place in different wards of the city during the early part of the day, and in the afternoon a terrific battle came in the Eleventh ward. The steam ship Star of the West bad arrived at New York from California. The suspended banks bad not resumed, and it was not known definitely whether any of them would be enabled to commence operations again very soon. A number of mercantile houses had failed since the last news. A mob had broken into the vaults of Adams and Co., at Sonora, and distributed about twenty-seven thousand dollars to the holders of certificates of deposit on that concern. The excitement about the Kern river mines was still kept up, and large numbers of emigrants were flocking to them. Volitttal atO LORD PANMURE, having been slightly indisposed last week, transacted business every day at his resi• hence in Belgrave-square. His lordships health is row much improved, and he has been able to resume his place in Parliament. Mr. F. Peel has been in daily attendance at the War Department. WITHIN the last two months no less than ten whole companies of artillery have sailed for the Crimea, and many of them have already arrived at the seat of war. Last week no less than 5,000 infantry left the shores of the United Kingdom to reinforce our battalions in the Crimea. Early in May there will be full 6,000 British cavalry at the Sat of war. ON Saturday the first volume of the evidence in the committee of inquiry, respecting the army before Sebastopol, was published by order of Parliament. The blue book contains 729 folio pages. THE ANGLESEY MILITIA REGIMENT which a fort night ago numbered upwards of three hundred, has now dwindled down to twenty or thirty men. The Majority of the few retained cannot claim their dis- Ifharge, but some of them have been reattested, turd have received additional bounty. A memorial • bas been presented to the authorities by the inhabi tants of Besumaris praying for the removal of the militia corps. THE PRESS. THE following is a return of the amount of game forwarded by the Crimean Fund subscribers for the use of the British army in the Crimea:-300 hares, 2,500 pheasants, SOO rabbits, upwards of 800 turkeys, ducks, geese, &c., 80 brace of game, 500 head of deer, besides a number of haunches of venison, The Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of Norfolk, and the Earl of Normanton were large contributors. The Duke of Portland sent on his own account a large quantity of game and preserved meats. The Messrs. Gunter and Co. put all in a preserved state irrespec tive of profit. THE subject of Mr. Millais' new picture for the forthcoming exhibition at the Royal Academy, is an incident founded on a frequently recurring episode in London lire, the rescue of a family from a burning house by the fire-escape. It has already become the property of the purchaser of the " Order of Release" —Mr. Arden, of Cavendish square. MISS MARTINEAU ' says the Kendal Mercury, is en gaged, in her intervals of ease, upon her autobio graphy. THREE of the great works of the late John Martin, the painter, "The Last Judgment," "The Great Day of His iirrath," and "The Plains of Heaven," are on exhibition in the City, at the hall, No. 52, Threadneedle-street. A MEMOIR of the Rev. Sidney Smith, by his daughter, Lady Holland, is promised iu a few days by Messrs. Longmans. MOUNTED ESCORT CORPS FOR AUSTRALIA, COM priAing one hundred men selected from the police of Glasgow, Liverpool, and other northern towns, sailed from Liverpool in the Exodus, on Monday. The force consists of ninety men, eight sergeants, and two inspectors ; the last-named officers being Captain Hampton and Mr. John Cecil Reed, late au efficient and active inspector in the G division of the metro politan police. Garrett, the bank robber, proceeded by the same vessel. A MONUMENT to the memory of the Piedmontese students who fell in the Italian war of independence in 1848-49, was inaugurated in the chapel of the University of Turin on the 30th ult. IT is noticed, in letters from Poland, that when the Poles had to swear allegiance to the new Czar, a change was made in the form of the oath. In 1825 the Poles took the oath to "the Emperor of Russia and King of Poland ;" now there have been added the words, " and to the Grand Duke of Finland." Is the week that ended last Saturday, the deaths of 1,347 persons (715 males and 632 females) were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1845 54, the average number was 1,035, which if ratted by a tenth part for increase of population becomes 1,138. Hence it appears that a high rate of mortality still prevails, the excess of deaths in the present return over the estimated number being 209. The births of 912 boys and 806 girls, in all, 1,718 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54 the average number was 1,411. THE FIRST Exmarnow this season of the Horti cultural Society of London takes place in the grounds of Gore-house on May 16. AN enormous quantity of shot, guns, and shell, rides, pistols, and common arms, have been supplied from the Portsea gun-wharf for the equipment of the Baltic fleet, and a very large supply of Colt's re volving pistols has also been provided there for the same service. THE DIRECTORS OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE intend to have an exhibition illustrative of the arts and manu factures and of the manners and customs of India, China, and other Oriental countries, in a court to be set apart for that purpose. THE Brittania, 120, on her return lately to Ports mouth from the Black Sea, landed a fine brass field piece, a trophy from the memorable field of Alma, which is to be removed to Woolwich for national ex hibition. It is a fourteen-pounder, with carriage, driving limber, bucket, sponge, ntmmer, worm, scraper, and all, appurtenances complete. The top of the bucket also serves as a tompion for the gun; the axletree bears strong evidence of an attempt to cut it through to prevent the enemy getting it off the field when its capture became imminent, and the pole was effectually cut away, The gun has an eleva ting screw worked by a winch through the limber, and so simple as to "beat" anything of the kind in the British gunnery-working. The ranges of the gun are inscribed on the carriage, which is made with the view of mounting a twenty-four-pounder if needed. It has " 1852" marked on it. AT the Liverpool Assize Court, on Saturday, an action was brought against the Chester and Holy head Railway Company, by J. Naylor, Esq., to recover the sum of 4 0 5001. for damages to certain pictures, which while being conveyed across the company's line at Oswestry, were run into by a train, destroying the horse, van, and property above named. The pictures had been on view in Liverpool during the visit of the British Association, and were highly prized. After the case had been called on, the le speetive parties effected a compromise, the company paying the plaintiff 2,5004 and costs. pants anD Ofitncts. Tin outbreak of an extraordinary conflagration on Thursday week, at the village of Needingworth, near St. Ives, is reported in the Cambridge Chronicle. Four separate and distinct fires, supposed to be the work of an incendiary, occured within about an hour. The damage done is estimated at about 6,000/. A man is in custody on suspicion. The first fire com menced in a stack on Mr. Samuel Thorpe's premises, and the flames soon communicated with the bath, which was filled with oats, and thence to a whole range of buildings, forming a square, consisting of seven barns, containing corn, together with the harness for ten horses, the whole of which was com pletely destroyed. The flames then spread to four cottages, which were soon destroyed. Four large stacks oppsite next took fire, which shared a like fate. Thence the conflagration spread to another range of buildings, consisting of six barns and other buildings, together with corn, implements, and the dwelling-house of Mr. Thorpe, scarcely a vestige of which remains. The property destroyed be longing to Mr. Thorpe is estimated at about 3,0001.; he is said to be fully insured in the Norwich Union. The second fire, about 150 yards off, broke out at the back of some cottages belonging to a Mr. Harris, and destroyed property to the amount of 5001. The third fire was extinguished before much damage was done ; but the fourth was very destruc tive, a number of cow-lodges and other buildings being destroyed, together with fifteen or sixteen ions of valuable hay, and some extensive and modern farm buildings belonging to Mr. John Hairidine, and a granary, containing an immense quantity of valuable hay chaff, which had been deposited there for expor tation. Altogether Mr. Harridine's loss is estimated at nearly 1,5001. As Kum GRANVILLE was driving in his gig on Tuesday evening from the House of Lords to the Great Western terminus on his way to Windsor Castle, he met with an accident, happily unattended by serious results. Being anxious to catch the train, he urged his horse to a rapid pace, and lost all con trol over the animal, which carried the gig against a lamp post. In the collision Earl Granville and his groom were both thrown out. The noble earl was much aliaken * but fortunately not seriously hurt, and availed himself of the brougham of a iriend then passing to resume his route to the railway terminus. Obituarg. The well-known geologist, StR HENRY Da LA BECHE, F.R.S., died suddenly on Friday, in the fifty ninth year of his age. The deceased was son of late Colonel De La Beebe, and was the member of an old family, one of whose members tilled tie office of Constable of the Tower in the reign of Edward 111., and subsequently that of Seneschal of Gascony. the Barons be La Beche, from whom the deceased deduced descent, were settled in Berks during the reign of Edward IL In Sir Henry the public have lost a most useful public officer. He was director of the Ordnance Geological Survey of Great Britain, of the Museum of Economic Geology, and of many public institutions. He was also the author of valu able works on scientific subjects. We regret to announce the death of GEORGE BELLAB GREENOUGH, ESQ., F.R.G.S., of Grove-house, Regent's-park, in his 76th year, deeply and sincerely lamented by a large circle of attached friends. The melancholy event occurred at Naples on the 2ud inst., after a short illness. In him the arts lose a distin guished patron, and science a devoted and enthusi astic follower. Tim SPANISH 130VERNMENT have issued a decree di recting that., except in cases of special treaty, the inland Spanish postage on all letters received from abroad shall, from the Ist of next month, be 4 reels (101) the quarter-ounce. On English letters this will have the effect of reducing the Spanish chatge (when the letter does not exceed a quarter of an ounce) to less than one-half the present amount — viz., from 2s. Id. to 101 ON Goon I'itinzx a new and beautiful composition, by Sarmienti, was most successfully performed before the King of Naples in the Royal Chapel. Charles Braham took a prominent part in the performance. At the close of the ceremony the King, leading one of his children, and followed by her Majesty and their children, advanced to the altar to kiss the crucifix. IN consequence of the duel which recently took i)lace at Madrid between two newspaper-writers, the Journalists of that city have decided that in order to prevent such affairs in future a tribunal of honour, consisting of five members, shall he nominated every month, to decide on, and arrange, all personal die putes which may arise between gentlemen of the press in that city. THE merchants of the St. Petersburg bourse have resolved, at the instigation of Baron Stieglits, to ereet in the hall of the Exchange a monument to the Lau) Cur Nicholas. 375 .1