The Press. — London, England, 1855-06-09 00:00:00

JUNE 9, 1855. Original Y,tittrs from itt (rintta. Heights of Balaklava, May 25tb, 1855. Dear Sir,—l have just received your very kind letter of the 9th inst., and avail myself of the signa ture to thank you for your kindness to me, an utter stranger, by sending me so many papers. I receive one every week. I think there are none of yours but have reached me, also those sent by Mr. M--, whose kindness I shall ever remember. A London newspaper is invaluable out here, both letting us know what is going on at home and what we have done here. By this mail you will receive very inte resting news of an expedition which left two days ago, it is said to Kertch, and of a grand movement made by a strong army this morning towards the Tschernaya river, not three miles from where I am writing. " Our own Correspondent" will be able to give you a more glowing description of it than I, but as an eyewitness I can convey to you some idea of its grandeur and extent, being on a hill 200 feet above the splendid plain of Balaklava, where they assembled this morning before daylight, and as day broke the whole army could be seen in dense columns crawling over the rising ground where the cavalry charge took place. The splendid Sardinians formed a fine contrast to the filthy bad-clad Turks, whose music (?) is as detestable to the ear as their appearance to the eye. The French took the left, and I hear the brave Zouaves were in advance of the whole army. There were not many British, troops, I believe, except the 10th and 12th Light Dragoons. The Sardinian infantry took the right, and went off by the village of Kamera, where a Cossack picket is always to be seen. As they went over the crest of the hill several Russian batteries opened from the Inkermann heights, but I hear did little damage. There was some fighting with small arms on the right front, where some extensive field-works are thrown up, and well described by " Our own Corre spondent" in the Times of the 9th instant. Several Zouaves were killed, but we took fifteen prisoners. This piece of news I have just been told by Lord Rokeby, who has just (eleven a.m.) returned. By eight o'clock the heat got so oppressive that it was considered prudent to halt, in fact retire. The whole of the cavalry have retired into the plain under the protection of our batteries on our entrenchments, and are encamped with the infantry on the crest of the hill. The (lay is terribly hot, and the sun shining on this immense army is a tableau which cannot be conveyed to canvas. I may venture an opinion on the morning's work, and if wrong it is at least probable. You no douht heard cf the expedi tion which went front here this day fortnight for Kerte!), and which, when there, returned by an order from who we cannot imagine, and will only find out when we receive a London paper eighteen days hence. The same expedition left two days ago, and I imagine that this is only a false movement, and are only waiting for a signal from this expedition to advance by M ackenzie's Farm and drive the enemy into Sebastopol or further north. If the place can be invested we may then hope for a speedy entry into the town, and, since it is undertaken, it will be done, although the position is frightful ; but, after Alma, trifles will not stop us. The Guards are now the only British troops in Balaklava, and as yet we have received no order to move with the army; but we are ready, and two hours after the order may see us in the plain. War has a terrible eound, but there is a hope to survive, an excitement to bear one up, and a firm belief (for the British soldier) that his services will be appreciated and recompensed, that makes him fight as he has always done. I expe rienced a sensation this morning which I often wished to feel—that is, to witness a battle, or what one feels when about to go into action. Not half so serious, I assure you, as one imagines when sitting by a comfortable fire in the enjoyment of all the luxuries you have pictured for me should I return — viz., good health, tobacco, grog, (tc. The former, thanks to the giver, I have enjoyed to the full extent in this country; neither of the latter are necessary ingredients to my enjoyment. Yesterday being the Queen's birthday our o r cers subscribed a considerable amount, which was distri buted amongst the men in prizes for wrestling, racing, dm Several of the races were open to, and were joined in by, French and Sardinians ; yes, and even "Johnny Turk " run, and I assure you that is not a common thing for him to do, and only by the ,grace of our excellent o cers were they allowed to be so familiar with us. The French sent one band of music and the Sardinians two. The Cossacks s tampered about in the plain by fours and fives, seemingly at a loss what to make of the sport, but they wisely kept without range of our guns in position. Our fresh allies, the Sardinians, are the finest soldiers I ever saw in every respect. Their clothing and appointments have been made for service and imfort, and their gene -al anp( era insp res one w.th confidence at tee issue of a fire with the enemy whit, they are with net attity department or their THE WAR. The telegraphic advises received during the week add a few further details respecting the operations in and around the Sea of Azoff. A despatch was re ceived at the Admiralty on Tuesday from Sir E. Lyons, bearing date the 31st ult., and stating that the squadron had appeared before Jenitchi, landed a body of seamen and marines, and, after driving the Russian force from the place, destroyed all the depots and vessels laden with corn and sup plies for the army. One man only was wounded. Since entering the Sea of Azoff four steamers of war, and 240 vessels employed in conveying supplies to the Russian army in the Crimea, had been destroyed. Later despatches were subsequently received, bringing intelligence to the 4th inst., when Sir E. Lyons states that Captain Moore, of her Majesty's steamer Highfiver, who has just returned from the coast of Cireassia, reports that the enemy had en tirely evacuated Sotijak Kale, after destroying all the public buildings, sixty guns, and six mortars. The enemy appears to be concentrating at Anapa, and to be strengthening his works there. The fort on the road between Soujak Kale and Auapa is also evacuated. Russian reports of the same transactions have been transmitted to St. Petersburg and published there. On the 27th ult. Prince Gortschakoff reports that the enemy burnt, at Berdianski, two houses, some coasting vessels, and a large depot of wheat. On the 20th seventeen of the enemy's vessels cannonaded Jenitchi, and burnt there some transports and some corn upon the coast. Two of our pieces forced the enemy's long-boats, from ,which the tire proceeded, to retire. On the 30th the enemy had not undertaken . . anything new against Jenitchi. On the 3rd the Prince announces that the allies had left Jenitchi. It was hoped that a portion of the burned stores of provisions can be saved. The steamers of the enemy have since visited Arabat, and burned a merchant ship, with some small craft. They made no movement towards the interior of the peninsula of Kertch. The telegraphic cable beneath the waters of the Euzine had become somehow deranged, and com munications were interrupted for some days. On Thursday, however, the line was again in order, and Lord Panmure on that day announced the receipt of a message from Lord Raglan, dated the oth (Wed nesday), and stating that the bombardment of Sebastopol had been commenced that afternoon. The Moniteur publishes the following telegraphic despatch from General Pelissier, dated the Ist instant : We have sprung two mines in front of the Flaffstaff Bastion; the second explosion (lid considerable damage to the enemy. In the ravine of Careening Bay in advance of our works our engineers discoveted a transverse line of twenty•four cubic cases filled with gunpowder, each forty centimetres thick in the inside, placed at equal distances, and buried just beneath the sod ; each case, containing one•fiftieth of a kilogramme of powder, is covered with a fulminating apparatus, which would explode by the simple pressure of the foot. These cases have been taken up by our engineers. The corps which Omer Pacha has embarked at Eupatoria and landed at Kamiesch consists of 25,000 picked men and forty guns. They were to be replaced by an Egyptian and Tunisian division. The Russians are rapidly raising redoubts on the north side of Sebastopol, but they are not yet armed ; 60,000 of the allied troops will remain before Sebas topol when the advance is made. In general orders "Before Sebastopol, May 21," was published a letter from Lord I'anmure to Lord Raglan, expressing her Majesty's gratification at the gallantry displayed by the troops engaged in the affair of the rifle-pits on the night of the Illth of April, her regret at the loss sustained by the death of Colonel Egerton, and the other brave men who fell on that occasion, and conveying her sympathy with the sufferings of the wounded. The French soldiers speak of Canrobert with great regard; they say that during the winter he visited the ambulances, and went into their tents, found out their wants, and supplied them, and that for the army he was a pere de famille. Some will tell you that he was tender to a fault: that more might have been done perhaps had he not husbanded (menage) the soldiers too much. The following official despatches have been pub lished during the week : From Lord Raglan : - - - - Before Sebastopol, May 2tl. I have the honour to report to your lordship that a por tion of the allied armies took up a position yesterday on this side of the Techernays, the left of the French resting under a redoubt established upon the e ms :edg f this ridge eierhanging the volley, and opposite lnkermesut is3ue of a fire with the enemy Prince Consort, is the agent for the Foreign Legion I under a redoubt eitsousneu upon toe euse VA WWI EMISCP 1 aYery departmout or their new being enihedied , oietheuitnit the fie' end %Tooke the Ida THE PRESS. army seems to be carried on with a proper system ; they have treble the number of ambulance convey ance, commissariat, &c., that we have, although their army is much smaller. Had the British been half as well provided much misery and death might have been saved the last winter, and not the blame of all our sufferings laid to individuals willing to do good but fettered by routine, which nothing but time could effect. Should I have a few moments to-morrow morning before the mail goes I will inform you of any move ments in the army ; but since I commenced this letter rumour says that we (the Guards) join the army. I hope so! My fatherland is " ayont the Tweed," the kingdom of Fife, and any newspaper published in that country is of very little interest to me in this part of the world—too much kirk gossip. MAY 26th, eight a.m.—The army has gone out of sight in the ravines ; they left about five o'clock; but as yet there has been no tiring heard. We have received no order to move yet.—l am, sir, yours truly, W. M. RESPECTING the health of the King of Prussia, a Berlin letter states that his Majesty is to return to Sans Souci by the 10th instant. All these and many other arrangements for the King's movements during the summer are, however, likely to be changed a good many times yet, in consequence of his bad state of health. Only the day before yesterday he had a re turn of ague, which a little time back had attacked him rather severely. Though there is, perhaps, no thing at present in the King's state to inspire solici tude in those attached to him, it is known that he has been for a long time thoroughly out of health ; he has become extremely stout, and anything but firm and healthy in flesh—proof of which is to be seen in the length of time that the wound which he got on his foot and his cheek on two different occa sions, while walking in the garden at Charlottenburg, took to heal. THE MILITARY MEDALS granted by the Hon. East India Company, commemorative of the recent achieve ments of the British army in Burmah, and which have already been presented to several regiments which took part in the campaign, were distributed on Monday last to the 51st (King's Own) Light Infantry, now under orders for the Crimea, by General Sir Harry Smith, at Manchester, in the presence of a considerable number of spectators. The number of medals given was upwards of 400. THE BURNI,NG OF THE CPCESUS was much more fatal than at. first believed. The muster-roll having been lost with the ship, the extent of the loss of life amongst the troops was not at first ascertained. It now appears that, sixty-eight individuals perished, of whom all were soldiers, with the exception of one who was a sailor, ou board the unfortunate vessel. LARGE GOVERNMENT ORDERS for sword cutlery and bayonets in Birmingham are delayed by the insub ordinate and irregular conduct of some of the work men employed. Messrs. Heighington and Lawrence are under engagement to supply 700 bayonets per week, but they and other contractors are at the pre sent time behind no less than 40,000 bayonets with the Board of Ordnance. The men, it appears, are able to earn from 3/. to 41. per week, but many of them take advantage of the pressure upon contractors to exact, if possible, a greater amount of wages than that to which they are by agreement with their mas ters entitled. AN INSURANCE COMPANY is in course of formation at Paris, with a nominal capital of 120,000/., for exo nerating policy-holders from the contingency of paying for a substitute in case of their being drawn for military service. Its title is " Caisse Militaire des Enfants." THE funeral of a Russian gentleman who died at the Fleece Hotel, in Cheltenham, took place a few days since. The name of the deceased was Nicholas Karakin, aged 23, son of Paul Karakin, a wealthy merchant of St. Petersburg. He came to England from Germany to finish his studies, and make him self master of the language. When the war broke out be obtained permission to continue in this country, and during the past few months has been engaged on a mission of benevolence, in visiting such of his countrymen as have been brought to England as prisoners of war. Being a member of the Greek Church, it became necessary that a clergyman of that Church should conduct his obsequies, and a Russian clergyman, the Rev. Ugen Popoff, attended from London. The body was deposited, with much cere mony, in an oaken coffin, dressed and ornamented as is usual among the Greek Christians—a cross and an image of the Virgin Mary was placed upon the breast. It was conveyed to the Protestant cemetery, where, after the reading of the burial service of the Church of England by the officiating curate, the Russian ce remony of interment was gone through by the Russian clergyman. The deceased was followed to the grave by several of his countrymen, who visited him during his illness. SIR JOHN KIRKLAND, BART., military agent to the Prince Consort, is the agent for the Foreign Legion ROW tiodied, 539 t ,