The Press. — London, England, 1855-10-13 00:00:00

=I ~~ r. ~~'. THE PRESS. THE WEEK. WE believe we may confidently state that General SIMPSON will very shortly return home, and that, as General MARKHAM has retired, the command in the first instance will be offered to General EYRE. As the Minister of War does not now favour the public with any telegraphic despatches, we have to be content, so far as official intelligence from the English camp is concerned, with those written despatches of General SIMPSON which occasionally appear in the columns of the Gazette. By the latest this week, that of the 29th, we learn two important facts—first, that the view which Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS long since expressed, that we should not be able to make use of Sebastopol whenever we got it, has been verified ; and, secondly, that our army this year runs the same chance it did last, of being left for the winter upon the bleak heights of Balaklava sheltered by canvas. So few huts have arrived, that fatigue parties are daily busy in the town, breaking up the houses for the planks and wood which they contain, and conveying materials to the camp : Large fatigue parties (writes General Simpson) are daily employed in the town, dismantling and conveying timber and other materials from the ruins of the buildings ; and I hope, by this means, to get aconsiderable portion of the troops under cover previous to the commencement of the bad weather. General SIMPSON, it will be seen, only "hopes," so that it is clear from this paragraph that the home authorities either calculated upon the capture of Sebastopol to afford quarters for the army, or contemplated a retreat from the Crimea, or were supremely indifferent to the whole matter, and, blind to all experience, neglected those very preparations which the calamities of last year pointed out as necessary with painful distinctness. A week or two more, and heavy rains, with storms of sleet and snow, will sweep those bare bleak heights again ; and it will be past endurance to find that any of our brave troops have been left to suffer in summer clothing, or under the canvas tents. From the camp there is but little news. The army appears prin cipally to be employed in making roads. The active operations which were so eagerly anticipated a few weeks since seem to have dwindled down to the faintest rumour. The hutting interest has won the day, and, from present appearances, it does not appear probable that any divisions of the English army will be moved into the field this year. The change of life from one of painful anxiety, hope, and anticipation, to one now of mere routine and nothing to do, is very much felt. The trenches are broken up, the gabions burnt, the guns removed : every thing looks dreary, and even Sebastopol itself fails to attract often a few visits. So great is the tedium of camp life that the Times corre spondent, sick at heart at the prospect before him, conceived the idea that, if we have any intention of seriously crippling Russia, it would not be preferable to withdraw from the Crimea altogether (winter, of course, at Constantinople), and in the spring commence a campaign in some other portion of the Russian empire. The French army, after making several ineffectual demonstrations against the Russian position, has settled down for the present in the plain of Baidar, where they are constructing good roads for the passage of artillery. It is conceived that this is a proof of PELISSIER'S inten tion of making a move shortly, and in force. On the other hand, it may be regarded simply as a necessary precaution for the defence of his position, during the wet months of winter, when the plain becomes a swamp, and not a road is to be trusted. The Russians, upon their side, appear to look on, and strengthen their positions. A strong corps of 30,000 men, it was reported in the English camp, had been despatched from the Belbeck to observe Eupatoria, but beyond this no signs of retreat were visible in the Russian lines. The " eternal Cossack" was perched on the inaccessible heights, as usual. The fire of the northern batteries had increased, and fresh defences were being daily thrown up by the Russians. On the whole, the week's intelli gence from the seat of war does not admit of any interpretation of field operations being contemplated by the allied Generals before the winter. The appearance of the allied fleets off Odessa and Ockschakov is at length a symptom that something decisive is about to be done on the coasts of the Black Sea. We have waited for this a long time, and believe that it might have been undertaken with much greater effect twelve months ago. The defences of the Russians since then have been trebled. It is impossible to predict the result. Little as yet is known of the plan of the Admirals, and it is by no means certain whether or not a strong military force is on board the fleet. Letters from Kamiesch last week stated the activity and preparation which reigned at that port for the embarkation of some 30,000 French troops. The ruse which was practised by the fleet suddenly steaming away on the 26th ult., with their crews dressed in red coats and crowded on deck, led Prince GORTSCHAXOI7 to imagine that a strong force had started for and been landed at Eupatoria, while, in fact, only a single division of French cavalry had been landed there; and if any large force were really embarked on board the allied steamers it was kept carefully concealed, as it is remarkable that none of " Our Correspon dents" allude to the matter at all, except as regards the English divisions not being employed at Eupatoria. Hence it seems probable that a strong military force is on board the fleet, and in that case it would be intended not merely to bombard, but to sack, burn, and destroy the military positions held by Russia on the coast. SATURDAY, The reception of the Duke of CAMBRIDGE at Liverpool has done honour to the town. The enthusiasm with which the Duke was met was a tribute to the Army and a mark of respect to the Royal Family. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE may well be proud of the honour paid to him. lie nobly won it, by his affectionate care of his soldiers and by his distinguished bravery in the field. The House of Hanover has always been distinguished for personal courage, and in the Duke it is united with the highest qualities of English character. Au instance of his kindness of heart is worth relating. During his visit at Knowsley he heard that a toll-keeper in the neighbourhood, named KERR, had had two sons in the Duke's regiment, and that both had perished in the Crimea. On Monday, as the Duke was proceeding to Liverpool, accompanied by Lord DERBY, he ordered the carriage to stop at this gate, and addressed the be reaved father in terms of sorrow for his heavy loss, adding words of consolation, sympathy, and praise of the dead, well calculated to cheer the old man's heart. His gratitude and pleasure may be imagined, when he learnt that his comforter was the beloved colonel of his sons, and the cousin of the Queen. As matter of record, we must notice the sensation excited in political circles by recent articles in Tax Pans favourable to a con clusion of the war, now that Sebastopol, formerly a great obstacle to terms of pacification, has fallen. Those, articles have been ma lignantly interpreted to mean that there is a party in this country eager to effect any kind of combination to defeat the existing Ministry. They may well be left to speak for them selves. They appeal solely to the good sense of the nation. It is true that public sentiment in this country cannot enforce peace— it can only smooth the way for it. There must be two parties to a pacification, as there must be two parties to a quarrel. It is not for our Government to offer terms to Russia ; but it is desirable she should understand that, if she be heartily disposed for peace, and willing to remove all cause for apprehend ing that she would disturb the South by her aggressions, she will not be met by other than temperate counsels and moderate demands. We cannot expect her to make advances which it is morally certain will be rejected with contumely. Let her understand that we take no pleasure in a war of extremity to issue in spoliation and dismemberment, that she may perceive tho choice of the olive branch or the sword is yet open to her. A terrible respon sibility will rest on that party which, whether by the insult ing taunts on one side, or by haughtiness of spirit on the other, loses the hour for accommodation, and pursues the struggle to that point when it must become mortal. It is impossible that we can reply in these columns to the observations which our views have called forth. Of all our critics, the Economist is, perhaps, the most candid; but its references to history are so unfortunate as to suggest a suspi cion that its studies in that department have been very recently com menced. The Treaty of Utrecht and the Treaty of Paris are de nounced as the achievement of faction : Twice before has a British Ministry surrendered by an ignominious peace the con quests and advantages which their rivals had won by a brilliant and successful war. This is novel language, in the mouth of an economical advocate. How, if the war with France had in either case been carried to extre mity ? Is it likely that the state of Europe would be more satisfactory at the present time? Ought we to have insisted, say, on the possession of Calais, that we might always keep continental France in check. Yet, what is Sebastopol but the Calais of Russia? Nearer historic instances may he more valuable. How, if there had been no Russia at the period of the Egyptian revolt, when France was so angry, and M. TRIERS was so eager for a contest with England ? Can we say that no such contingency will occur again? The attention which the articles in THE PRESS have excited, will certainly direct the mind of the public to important considerations too long neglected. likki OH! THE LEADER! AIR—" Oh, the Shamrock." The Times's file I read erewhile, And as I read I wonder'd To see the might And brazen spite With which its godship thunder d At every page Its factious rage Some reputation mangles; With words immense And little sense It wrangles and it jangles. Oh, the Leader, The self-elected Leader, The vilest cause Wins your applause, And finds in you a pleader ! Its types of lead Strike men as dead As bullets from a rifle ; But they're seldom aim'd Till the foe's quite maim'd—i But that you know's a trifle. 4_,young recruit, Whit) taught to shoot, ;~+irAr~ti;«~~ te;4410, ■