The Press. — London, England, 1855-06-23 00:00:00

590 suddenly they felt an explcsion under the vessel's bottom, which overthrew all the mesa tables and forms on the lower deck, and broke no end of crockery, besides bending an iron knee nearly double. The signal was immediately made to the Firefly to stop, but before she could do so another explosion took place underneath her with similar effect. These explosions were doubtless caused by infernal machines. Certainly their first attempt was a failure, as only a taw sheets of copper were knocked off the vessels, and s)me slight damage done on board. I fancy we shall have another look at them closer. Harrier (who has just arrived from England), Firefly, and Driver are gone to blockade the Gulf of Bothnia. Ajax goes to Ledsund as a sort of corps de reserve. Squadron are healthy. Bulldog has just arrived with the mails. The Russians have, it appears, ten or eleven steam gun-boats, but they take care not to come out. Cossack has just anchored, I hear. Alas! all I told you is too true. It was a mistake, the flag of truce landing without being responded to; but our poor fellows thought nothing was there. And that the scoundrels should murder. instead of taking prisoners, unarmed men, is too frightful to think of. It is to be hoped that every civilised nation in Europe will express their indignation at so foul a deed. Vulture takes the mails. Magicienne has been firing shot and shell into a Russian encampment of two or three thousand men, and made them, as Paddy says, 4 move out of that." THE CIVIL SERVICE IN INDIA. THE following is a list of the Examiners of the Candidates for the Civil Service of India:— English Literature, ¢c.—Right Hon. Sir James Stephen, R.C.8., LL.U., Professor of Modern History, Cambridge ; Rev. F. Temple, M.A., Principal of Kneller Hall. Cassical.—Rev. G. Rawlinson, M.A., Exeter College, Oxford ; Rev. Richard Congreve, M.A., Wadham College, Oxford. French.—Mons. Baron, Doctor of the University of France, and Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium ; Mons. de Vericour, Professor of Modern Languages, Queen's College, Cork. . . . Italian.— A. Panizzi, Esq., British Museum. German Literature.—Professor Max Muller, M.A., Tay lor Institution, Oxford. Mathematics —A Cayley, Esq., M A., Trinity College, Cambridge ; G G Stokes, M.A., Esq., Professor of Mathe• makes, Cambridge. Natural Science.—G. J. Allman, Esq., M.D., Professor of Botany, lrinity College, Dublin ; G. D. Liveing, Esq., MA., Lecturer of Natural Science, St. John's College, Cambridge. Moral Science.—Rev. J. M`Cosh, LL.D., Professor of Logic, Queen's College, Belfast ; Alex. Grant, Esq., M.A , Oriel College, Oxford. Arabic.—Colonel J. W. Ouseley, Professor of Arabic, Haileybury. Sanscrit —Monier Williams, Esq., M.A., Professor of Sanscrit, Haileybury. MAJOR .GENERAL CHATTERTON, M.P. for Cork, has been appointed to the command of the Limerick district. ARRANGEMENTS are almost completed for the con struction, liy a joint-stock company, of very extensive docks at Langstone Harbour. It is somewhat re markable, considering that there is no harbour of refuge on the southern coast, that this, the best naturally-formed harbour for our commercial marine between Plymouth and the Nore, should have been so long neglected. There is depth of water inside equal to that of Portsmouth, and it is almost as extensive, being five miles in length ; the entrance might without difficulty (according to Sir J. Rennie and other eminent engineers) be so much improved as to admit vessels of the largest size, either naval or commercial ; and it is protected from foreign aggres sion by Cumberland Fort at the entrance, and the fleet within gunshot at Spithead. The works will in clude wet and dry docks, warehouses, everything in fact on the most complete and extensive scale, with a short branch railway to Havant, which will afford direct communication with the metropolis by means of three lines of railway—the South-Western, the London, Brighton, and South Coast, and the Ports mouth Direct. The formal sanction of the Lords of the Admiralty has been obtained, and the undertaking is supported by the Duke of Richmond and all the principal landowners around the district, as well as by the municipal authorities of Portsmouth and Chichester. A LETTER FROM Rolm, in the Messaggere of Modena, states that a monument to Daniel O'Connell, executed by Benzoni, at the expense of Mr. Bianconi, the well known car-proprietor in Ireland, has just been com pleted, and is to be placed in the church of Sant Agata alla Suburra, belonging to the Irish College at Rome. The inscription is in Latin, by Dr. Newman. THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF THE JEWS' FREE SCHOOL was held at the London tavern on Tuesday evening, Lord John Russell in the chair. About 140 gentlemen sat down to dinner, including Lord Denman, Sir Anthony Rothschild, president of the institution, the Rev. Dr. Adler, the Chief Rabbi, Alderman Salomons, &c. A collection of upwards of 2,0001. for the purposes of the institution was an nounced in the course of the evening. 11. THE PRESS. lortign dorrtspoubtutt. BRUSSELS, Thursday. THE disturbances on the frontiers of Spain have been traced to Russian intrigue and Russian gold. There had long existed a suspicion to that effect, which has now by the seizure of papers been con verted into certainty. Neither in England nor France can there be officially stationed a bead or corre sponding chef for these machinations, although certain communications are held with both coun tries. The mainspring is, therefore, placed in the most convenient country that will admit of its immediate and active working. It is well established that the lines of conspiracy, tele graphic or otherwise, extend to this place, which forms the advanced post of Russian strategy. These embassies of despotism, greedy of information, and without scruple in obtaining it, have been, are, and ever will be, correctly informed on the minutiae of passing events. The effect of the motion of Mr. Disraeli, having for object the embodiment of popu lar feeling in England, has been perfectly reported at St. Petersburg. Thereupon the Independance Beige, having a large circulation in Germany, Prussia, and Russia, under order, assures its conti nental readers that England is eager for peace ; that Mr. Gladstone, and not Mr. Disraeli, may be held to represent the desires of the English people ; and that a growing dissatisfaction prevails against Lord Palmerston and the war party in the Cabinet. Coupled with this assurance comes the remark, as it were en passant, that Russia, in the indulgence of a wonted magnanimity, would not be disinclined to listen to an overture of peace ; and there is this to be observed in the equivocal and semi-official suggestion of the Indipendance, that, assuming it to be true, it would be demonstrative of a wish on the part of Russia to negotiate without intervention. Austria, by her fixed resolve of neutrality, after the failure of the Conferences, has vitiated that part of the treaty of December which would bind the allies not to act without her. She may have been cunning in her generation, without doubt, but from being over-cunning she has freed the allies from her fatal alliance. Following up its commanded policy, the Indepen dance would foment discord betwixt the soldiers of France and England. It avers, as a known fact, that the victory at Alma was due exclusively to Marshal St. Arnaud and the French soldiery, that the Marshal was obliged to remonstrate with Sir George Brown and Sir De Lacy Evans on their unwillingness to advance, and to urge them to fight. These officers are named, and the Times has already exposed the folly and impropriety of such prepos terous falsehood. From an excess of absurdity the intent of mischief is made void and of no effect. The gentlemanly feeling of the "braves Beiges" towards the "gueux Britanuiques" shall be shown in a few words. During the summer evenings the excellent band of the Opera plays at the Café Velloni in the park. The cafe is frequented by the elite of Brussels—" lions," lionnes," " sangliers," " chimpanzees," " biches," and others of the haute voUe—and the programme of the concert is distri buted, and is contained in a theatrical brochure, entitled "L'Echo—Moniteur du Theatre." In that of June 16th appears the following notice of the aristocracy of England : Au theatre de Drury Lane I Londres, une grande et solennelle representation dramatique a ete donne° le moil dernier par une societe d'amateurs, dont touts les membres se recrutent dans la haute aristocratie Anglaise. La Refine, le Prince Albert, et toute la haute fashion de Lon dres assistaier.t is cette curieuse tentative. On a d'abord jour une petite comedie, qui it fait un fiasco cornplet, par ceque la richesae et la naissance ne donnent point le talent. Alain cette piece a succede la pantomime de Harlequin Guy Fawkes. dans la quelle lee amateurs ont fait leur revanche, et out reussi completement et d'une mainere extmordinaire Vous voyez que l'aristocmtie Anglaise, si impuissante a traduire le eel attique, reussit superieurement dans lee farces, dans lee pasquinade* et dans lea clowneries On a ri aux eclat* et princi palement dans la loge royale. Cette particularite eat groase d'enseignments. There is more subtlety in this Russian concoction than meets the eye; the insinuation regarding the incompetency of the English aristocracy, and the insolent remark on the "loge royale" indicating the hostile animus of the writer, E. R. SATURDAY, FRANKFORT, June 21. THE veil of decency has been cast aside by Austria, and she has consented to diminish her armies. At the same time a remonstrance has been addressed to the Autocrat of all the Russias against his inter ference amongst the States of Germany, and M. de Buol seizes the happy opportunity to signify his dis pleasure at the abrupt termination of the Conferences. It is a quasi protest against the untoward event. But he has not been discouraged. Terms of reconcilia tion with Prussia have been proposed, to which the latter has lent a willing ear, in order that by a unity of purpose, irrespective of ought save their own interest, the conjoined Cabinets may contrive a fresh Con feren3e. From the determined and avowed neutrality of Austria, the danger that threatened her northern frontier is nullified, and she quietly enjoys, by the terms secretly agreed upon with Russia in the spring of 1854, the possession of the principalities, with the command of the Danube. Her desires have been accomplished without cost to lieriself—but at the cost of England and France, and with the cost of ridicule bestowed on the agents of Western diplo macy. She has no cause to fight for, and nothing to obtain, being in possession. Neither has this possession of the principalities been productive of other than misery to the Moldo-Wallachians. Open sympathy with the allies has been visited by impri sonment, au secret. Wives have been dishonoured, daughters violated, and their protectors murdered. A complaint to the military authorities is accounted an act of excessive insubordination, and a number of these victims have been put in chains, as Hungarian rebels, which they are not, and sent into Austria to be butchered according to the drum-head sentence of political assassination. Such are the painful and literal facts. And the occupation of the provinces where these atrocities have been agonized in spirit and body, was welcomed by the allies as a fortunate event. In former days, upon the evidence of such cold cruelty, the cry would have been, " Where is Lord Palmerston ?" But the changed situation of Austria, Prussia, and Germany—changed from the recent successes in the Crimea. and in anticipation of a victory still more substantial—will shortly be forced upon the consi deration of the Western Cabinets. It is asserted by members of the Diet that whenever the Cnmea and Sebastopol may be taken by the allies, peace will not be nearer of accomplishment. Russia will re treat behind her steppes, throw the main body of her armies on the Austrian and Prussian frontiers, and challenge a continental war. Germany, although emperor, kings, and princes are devoured by petty jealousies, will be compelled to unite for good or evil. In this confederated sense the country ought to side with France and England, but the ancient and not dilapidated enmity to France will blind the Germans to their real interests. It is the contem plation of this perilous future to be brought about by the successes of the allies, and the known obsti nacy of the party by whom the Czar is governed, that now excites the private attention of the Diet. They are aware that the failure of the concocted Conferences has been inimical to their plots and schemes against one another•; that, already half insolvent, another war would complete their ruin. As an agreeable surplusage to these several sub jects of interest, forth cc mea the speech of Prince Albert at the Trinity-house. What does it mean? The reproof to the House of Commons is palpable, and the Germans construe it as a censure upon the English Constitution for its defect in governmental administration, and for the unwieldiness of the glorious machine politic for potent and ready action. The argument is true in one sense, inasmuch as at the outset of a war the simple machinery of des• potism works more completely than that of a free and constitutional State; but, in the end, the very force of popular and accumulated strength is irre sistible from its concentration of untiring and in creasing energy. The free man works with a will, the Schlave labours under compulsion. Rum, reli gion, and the lash literally were the exciting causes of the Russian onslaught at Inkermann ; whereas ti. heart of the Englishman furnished the reason and supplied the might of conflict. Arguing to their own advantage upon the sense and bearing of this sin gular speech, the Germans, one and all, judge that it would have been wiser to have left it unsaid. I. E. L.