The Press. — London, England, 1856-04-12 00:00:00

APRIL 12, 1856. The Moniteur also announces that the health of the French army is materially improving. General Codrington has published to the army a translation of the Ordre du Jour issued by Marshal Pelissier on the celebration of the birth of the French Imperial Prince. _ . The intelligence of the birth of an he'r to the French Imperial Throne appears to have been received with much enthusiasm in the allied camp. A royal salute of 101 guns from the French camp was fol lowed by another from the whole of the British field batteries, counting ninety guns, drawn up on the verge of the high ground overlooking the Balaklava and Tschernaya plains. As soon as the salute was fired, the whole force was passed in review by the commander in•chief. The tine discipline and splen• did condition of men and horses excited the great admiration of the French officers present. The royal salutes were followed up with grand bonfires, and displays of fireworks at night. The French army received double rations of wine on the occasion. The running roll of fire which at noon welcomed the little Napoleon, writes a correspondent, was a fine sight The sight was very fine indeed, for from all the redoubts and batteries in the plain below French and Sardinians seemed to answer our fire, and one might have thought a battle was raging, but for the absence of the rushing sound of the shot. A great number of navvies and sailors turned out from Balaklava to enjoy the sight. The commander in-chief and the chief of the staff were also present. As soon as the news was thus loudly proclamed the day was devoted to festivity, and a general rush was made to all the canteens, so that toward evening the natural conse• quences followed, and I, among others, witnessed as pretty a little faction fight in the French camp at Fedukhine, between artillerymen, Zouaves, liners, and canteen-keepers, as could have been witnessed in the best days of Tipperary, and was also gratified by many demonstrations of the entente cordiale between the soldiers of the two nations, who did their best to get helplessly "happy together." At night the camps were a blaze of fire—Kamiesch was illuminated. Every Englishman who found himself there was obliged to lose his health in drinking to that of the Emperor. A perpetual fusilade was kept up all over the plateau. Some tents were burnt down amid the jollifica- tions, and the Russians must have been in continual ex citement from the fire of musketry and the explosion of powder, which raged all over the plateau for several hours. Great banquets will be given in honour of this event, of which, indeed, we all appreciate the magnitude and felicity. There will be dinners and balls and theatrical perform ances, and if peace is proclaimed the Russian generals will be invited to a grand entertainment at the French head-quarters.—Times cor., March 23. But the birth of the "little stranger" did not cause half so much excitement in the camp as the "Sebastopol Spring Meeting," held on Monday, the 24th March. Forty thousand men crowded together upon the banks of the Tschernaya to witness the great races. Epsom, Ascot, Doncaster, or New- market, atter such a gathering, must hide their diminished heads : Four great armies, with their marshals, generals, and knights in arms ( writes the Times correspondent), were the spectators. To the French the races were but a pro longation of the festivities peculiarly their own of the previous day, on an occasion in which their allies took a deep sympathy; and to the English it was a national out burst of men deprived for two long years of Epsoms and Ascots, and even of garrison races. Our allies, too, won a fair proportion of the honours of the day, and M. de Tulon, on his Irish racer " Paddy Boy," and M. le Capitaine Cornet, of the Chasseurs d'Afrique, on his fiery little pony Biquet, " wiped the eyes " of the " haughty islanders " in their own pet recreation.—March Z. The day was magnificent. Two hours before noon the roads were crowded by horse and foot, massed into positive armies of men, converging towards the racecourse along the Woronzoff road : siveness of the Anglican temper is more consistent with the sound sense of the North men, tban the brilliancy and graceful levity of our Gallic neigh bours. But the Russians have been profoundly offended, hurt, and mortified, and as the natural feeling is favorable to the English, so do they con sider them in the light of having betrayed the alliance. Lord Aberdeen is not at a premium for sagacity. Occasionally the national differences be tween their former antagonists are divertingly illustrated. A French officer, desperately wounded, was con veyed to the military hospital of Simferopol. His bed was placed beside one containing a Russian in a condition scarcely less precarious. A parity of suffering begat a friendship strengthened during a long convalescence that was thus beguiled and solaced. The Russian was the first to quit the hos pital, and the friends parted with every mark of attachment, and promises of uninterrupted corre spondence. When the Frenchman recovered he was sent to Moscow. There he found his former ally of the sick chamber, now retired from active service, living on his pension, and overjoyed at the opportu nity of testifying his regard. He became the in mate of his house, where the kindest attentions were lavished upon him, and which became doubly grateful when received at the hands of the beautiful wife of his attached host. Propinquity has it•; ad vantages and disadvantages; albeit peril is certain to each and to all. The usual course of romance was run, and the handsome Frenchman and lovely Lithuanian succumbed to the inevitable destiny in becoming obedience. Discovery was sure to follow; it did follow, for security neglected the advice of Byron to bolt the door. Taunts, reproaches of in gratitude, vows of vengeance, and a duel "1 mort," are the usual concomitants of similar affairs. Tbey were omitted on this occasion by particular desire. The lady was not a canonical wife, the Russian re linquished his claim, the Frenchman embraced him, the frail one smiled, and the marriage was solemnised. "Cela me convient," was the simple and philosophic reply of the Russian to an imperti nent observation. A Muscovite officer of rank, taken prisoner at In kermann, formed an intimacy with a young Eng lishman during his detention within the British lines. He was subsequently exchanged. It was the turn of the young Englishman to be wounded and a prisoner, and to be sent to St. Petersburg, where the daughters of his Russian friend performed the duties of hospitality most gracefully and affec tionately. Again comes the old and eternal story. One of these fair ones—be it Lola, Katinka, or Dudu—saw the son of Albion that he was fair, and the truths of the antediluvian epoch were brought into practical operation. But the social means of the Englishman were not in accordance with his comeliness of person, and to his credit, not withstanding the Eden temptation, he straightway informed the parent, his friend of the camp at Odessa, of what are termed frequently, in common parlance, " the rights of the case," and which still more frequently belie their integrity of expression. In this case moral rectitude was rewarded according to the canons of five-act comedies. The Russian was not only content, but insisted on the acquisition of a fresh subject to the Emperor, by matrimonial arrangement, and the bold Briton will dwell in ease on his Russo-Sabine farm. P. G. TEE PRESS. At noon, Marshal Pelissier with a brilliant staff arrived in his carriage, and mounting a magnificent black charger rode down the course to a marquee opposite the judge's stand. General Codrington arrived a little tato-, but does not appear to have in terested himself much in the races, for adds the cor respondent : Much to the regret of certain transgressors, he was not always in the same place, for, espying a rabblement of officers, men, and soldiers on the wrong side of the Tschernaya fraternising with the Russians, he sent a picket at the double upon them, took the privates prisoners, and " took the names " of the officers through the inetrtt• mentality of a calligraphic colonel. Sir William, be it known, is irreverently termed by godless subalterns " Coddy," and is said to evince the greatest talent in managing the smaller dahlia of military duty, with which he is perfectly acquainted. General de la Marmora and all the English generals soon arrived on the spot, and the races began. General Luders and the Russian officers had been invited, but declined. There were five flat races and two steeplechases. The first flat race was won by Capt Cornat, of the Chasseurs d'Afrique, while the second race, the grand steeplechase of the day, was won by the Viscount Talon, though on an Irish horse, which was some slight consolation to the defeated. The remaining five races fell consecutively to the English officers. A day or two previous to this fun Sir Richard Eyre had again paraded his division of 8,000 men in full fighting older, and this time on the banks of the Tschernaya, and created the liveliest excitement in the Russian camp, where nothing less than some terrible piece of treachery from " perfide Albion " was anticipated : Hastily assembling a body of four or five battalions of infantry, the Muscovites descended from their heights also, and, marching down by the swampy maraca formed by the Tschernaya as it approaches the head of the roadstead of Sebastopol, placed themselves as a corps of observation. and hung on every movement of our gallant general and his staff. The Russians marched on a parallel line with them, step by step—halted as our men halted, and pro ceeded with them as they advanced, till the field-day was over. Sir Richard Eyre might well feel proud of his divi sion, and be anxious to take them a good march to some spot where they could get away from the embarras of the tents, the huts, and the camp inclosures; but there are some people who agree in the propriety of the supposed objections of the brigadiers and of the staff to the selec tion of a place so near the enemy as the plains of the Tschernaya for the performance of field-day manoeuvres or the holding of a divisional inspection and drill. It was a very pretty sight to watch the motions of the two bodies of infantry, as the columns of men manoeuvred, now visible, now lost to sight among the inequalities of the plain. The men were refreshed by a long halt, during which the officers left behind them traces of their presence in the shape of empty bottles and tin cases, and returned in the afternoon, having roused the camp from its monotony for a time, and having started canards, gossip, and small-talk, which are yet lively and interesting. One of these stories is to the effect that the Russian general has made a repre sentation to the English head-quarters respecting the im propriety of the proceeding, and that General Codrington, who paid Sir R. Eyre a visit next day, expressed an opinion coincident with that of General Luders on the sub ject. Quin tube ?-46. lintign 6ortrspanblitzt. As these solid masses of men concentrated on !the plain —as these swarms of cavalry, very irregular it must be owned, closed in and formed in two prodigious columns face to face by the sides of the course—it must be sup posed that, taking it all in all, the world never saw the like of such a meeting under such circumstances. The bright hues of the uniforms ; the blaze of scarlet, of silver, of gold; the flashing of many colours ; the sudden com binations which gathered for a moment of green and blue, and yellow and red, and purple and grey, and white and orange, and pink and scarlet, and then were lost for ever; the clang of many voices, the neighing and tramp of horses, excited beyond all bounds by such a festival in honour of their powers, the crash of martial music, the associations of the place, the dark masses of the distant enemy above, the lines of armed sentries patrolling the banks—all these formed a chaos for the sight, the ear, and the fancy to distract themselves on at pleasure, which forbade the con trol of the intellect, and forced the mind to yield to the excitement of the hour. The British bat pony, the hardest used, the oftenest jumped, the heaviest loaded, and the lightest fed of hie race, even ventured to neigh and caper on the occasion, and to give small " croppers " to his lord and proprietor—and melancholy Land Transport Corps mokes kicked up wantonly, and in &asinine medita tion fancy free browsed on imaginary thistles. Just imagine this eomitalus of the three armies, numbering some forty thousand men, of which a large number were And clad in ga y nn.forins, bent on sac r i fi c in g to P o llux, srld Ha clad and Bacchus, and every other Olympic of a sporting turn, and with light and jocular tastes and habits, 0 414 say if it cotald be des.lribed.—lbid. ST. PETERSBURG, April 2. THE Journal of St. Petersburg duly and tritely announced the treaty of peace having been signed on Sunday last, March 30th. Everywhere the news was received with abounding satisfaction, and the sincerity was testified rather by domestic than public rejoicing. On account of the enormous losses sus tained, far more from disease than the casualties of war, the thanksgiving has truly come from the inward heart of every dweller, either in palace or cottage. On this occasion the " Te Deum " was not a vain and empty psalmody. The Russians live affec tionately in their families, and, although there is no analogy between Sclave domesticity and that of Western Europe, yet the elements of familiar attach ment are not wanting either in assuetude or depth. Under the peculiar Government of Russia, those who are professionally employed, and even those who are not, are liable to be summoned away or disposed of without preparation, and the possibility, always imminent, of sudden departure that can neither be postponed nor disobeyed, sharpens the natural affec tions and cements them from the overhanging fear of a compulsory absence. The first law, the moving principle In Russia, is blind obedience to irresponsi ble power. Even in the highest grade, amidst the suavities of excessive luxury, existence is but a gilded slavery. There is a silent rancour, palpable, however, and deep, even at the name of England, that be tokens an ill-will cf no common order. It is to be regretted, since there is that in the English charac ter which is more homogeneous to the Russian than that of the Vrench. The substantiality and the mas- FiuNEFORT, April 8. LET a plain fact be stated in words equally plain. Prussia, Sardinia, Turkey, and Austria, are not satis fied with the diplomatic arrangements at the Con ference. Prussia has officially asserted in the Zeit, and the Nouvelle Gazette de Prune, that the peace has resulted in great measure from the determined neutrality maintained by that country, which has been acknowledged, at its true value, by England and France, and on that account the " de la Croix " party used their good offices with Russia, and induced an ad3ption of the Vienna propositions. When was the value of that neutrality declared by the allies? There can be no utility in putting forward such extravagant fallacies at this hour. Such bombast can have no other effect than to discredit the party seeking to gain by the dishonesty. It is not sufficiently known in England thqt there are, as it were, two Prussias— one purely and royally despotic, and the other royal and constitutional, represented effectively by the parties "de la Croix " and " Gotha." It may be fur ther stated, without transgressing the bounds of prudence, that the King and the Prince Royal are the rallying points of the respective factions. One party is satisfied with the conduct of the Government during the Crimean war ; and the other holds such course to have been detrimental to national station and independence. One would wish to suppress ibe liberty of the press, and is forcing the question la the Prussian Chambers ; whilst the other bravely . ...cup bytripatny ; aria to tne rngnan it was a nationai out- to the canons of five-act comedies. The Russian burst of men deprived for two long years of Epaoms and was not only content, but insisted on the acquisition Ascots, and even of garrison races. Our allies, too, won a prtign 6ortrsponb•tnct. of a fresh subject to the Emperor, by matrimonial fair proportion of the honours of the day, and M. de Talon, arrangement, and the bold Briton will dwell in ease on his Irish racer " Paddy Boy," and M. le Capitaine ST. PETERSBURG, April 2. on his Russo-Sabine farm. Cornet, of the Chasseurs d'Afrique, on his fiery little pony Biquet, " wiped the ey es " o f th e " h aug h ty i s l an d ers "i n IHE Journal of St. Petersburg duly and tritely P. G. their own pet recreation.—March 25. announced the treaty of peace having been signed --,..... The day was magnificent. Two hours before noon on Sunday last, March 30th. Everywhere the news FRA.NKFORT, April 8. the roads were crowded by horse and foot, massed was received with abounding satisfaction, and the LET a plain fact be stated in words equally plain. into positive armies of men, converging towards the racecourse along the Woronzoff road : sincerity was testified rather by domestic than public Prussia, Sardinia, Turkey, and Austria, are not satis- rejoicing. On account of the enormous losses sus- fled with the diplomatic arrangements at the Con- As these solid masses o f men concentrate d on ! t h e p l a i n —as these swarms of cavalry, very irregular it must be tained, far more from disease than the casualties of ference. Prussia has officially asserted in the Zeit, owned, closed in and formed in two prodigious columns war, the thanksgiving has truly come from the and the Nouvelle Gazette de Prime, that the peace face to face by the sides of the course—it must be sup- posed that, taking it all in all, the world never saw the inward heart of every dweller , either in palace or has resulte d in g reat measure from the determined like of s uc h a meeting under such circumstances. The cottage. On this occasion the "Te Deum " was not a neutrality maintained by that country, which has bright hues of the uniforms ; the blaze of scarlet, of silver, vain and empty psalmody. The Russians live affel- been acknowledged, at its true value, by England and of gold; the flashing of many colours ; the sudden com- binations which gath ere d f or a moment o f green an d bl ue , tionately in their families, and, although there is France, and on that account the "de la Croix " party and yellow and red, and purple and grey, and white and no analogy between Sclave domesticity and that of used their good offices with Russia, and induced an toTlange, and pink and scarlet, and then were lost for ever; adaption of the Vienna propositions. When was the Western Europe, yet the elements of familiar attach- e . clang of many voices, the neighing and tramp of horses, value of that neutrality declared by the allies ? There excited beyond all hounds by such a festival in honour of ment are not wanting either in assuetude or depth. their powers, the crash of martial music, the associations Under the peculiar Government of Russia, those can be no utility in patting forward such extravagant of the place, the dark masses of the distant enemy above, who are professionally employed, and even those who fallacies at this hour. Such bombast can have no t fi h i s fines of armed sentries patrolling the banks—all these are not, are liable to be summoned away or disposed other effect than to discredit the party seeking to achaos for the sight, the ear, and the fancy to distractof without preparation, and the possibility, always gain hy the dishonesty. It is not su f ficiently known themselves on at pleasure, which forbade the con. trot of the intellect, and forced the mind to yield to the imminent, of sudden eparture that can neither be in England that there are, as it were, two Prussias— excitement of the hour. The British bat pony , the hardest postponed nor disobeyed, sharpens the natural affec- one purely and royally despotic, and the other royal used, the oftenest jumped, the heaviest loaded, and the tions and cements them from the overhanging fear and constitutional, represented effectively by the lightest fed of hie race, even ventured to neig h and caper of a compulsory absence. The first law, the moving parties 4 , de la Croix " and " Gotha." It may be fur- on the occasion, and to give small " sroppers "to his principle In Russia, is blind obedience to irresponsi- ther stated, without transgressing the bounds of lord and proprietor—and melancholy Land Transport C .°Ms mokes kicked up wantonly, and in asinine medita- ble power. Even in the highest grade, amidst the prudence, that the King and the Prince Royal are time fancy free browsed suavities of excessive luxury, existence is but a gilded the rallying points of the respective factions. One imagine this .on imaginary thistles. Just slavery. There is a silent rancour, palpable, however, party is satisfied with the conduct of the Government some forty y nis romitalus of the three armies, numbering and deep, even at the name of England, that be- during the Crimean war ; and the other holds such thousand men, of which a large number were • cavalry, clad in gay uniforms, bent on sacrificing to Pollux tokens an ill-will cf no common order. It is to be course to have been detrimental to national station and Mouts, and Bacch us , and every other Olympic of & regretted, since there is that in the English charac- and independence. One would wish to suppress jhe sporting turn, and with light and jocular tastes an d habits , ter which is more homogeneous to the Russian than liberty of the press, and is forcing the question flit Sill Say if it emtld be des2ribed.—lbid. that of the Tench . The substantiality and the mas- the Prussian Chambers ; whilst the other _bravely P