The Sun. — London, England, 1855-02-28 00:00:00

THE DIRECTORS of the ROYAL BRITISH BANK are prepared to receive Applications for their New Allotment of Stock, under the provisions of their Supplemental Charter, just granted by the Crown. Applications to be made, with out delay, at the Head Office, No. 16, Tokenhouse-yard, or at the Branches, 429, Strand; 77, Bridge-road, Lambeth ; 97, Goswell-road, Islington; 1, Shaftesbury-terrace, Victoria-street, Pimlico; 60, Stone's-end, Southwark; and 32, Regent-circus, Piccadilly. HUGH INNES CAMERON, General Manager. Royal British Bank, 27th Feb., 1855. NEXT OF KIN.—If the Relations or Next of Kin of ALICE ALICIA WIIITLA.M, late of 9, Belle Vue place, Margate, in the Isle of Thanet and County of Kent, spinster, who died on or about the 30th day of August, 1854, will apply to the Solicitor for the Affairs of her Majesty's Treasury, at the Trea sury-chambers, Whitehall, London, they may.hear.of something to their advantage. %TEXT OF KIN.—If the Relations or Next of LI Kin of MARY LAWRENCE, late of Erin Cottage, Sion Hill, Bath, in the county of Somerset, Spinster, whd died on or about the 28th day of November, 1853, will apply to the Solicitor for the Affairs of her Majesty's Treasury, at the Treasury Chambers, White hall, London, they may hear of something to their advantage. NEXT OF KIN.—If the Relations or Next of Kin of ELIZABETH CLARK, otherwise Garm late °flip. 28, D'Oyley-street, in the parish of Chelsea, in the county of Middlesex, Spinster, who died on or about the 25th day of April, 1354, will apply to the Solicitor for the Affairs of her Majesty's Treasnry, at the Treasury Chambers, Whitehall, London, they may hear of something to their advantage. IF the Relations or Next of Kin of FRANCES DI LE, late of/Co. 9, Chapel-street, Stockwell, in the county of Surrey, Spinster, a domestic servant, who died on or about the 15th of September, 1854, will apply, either personally or by letter, to the Solicitor for the Affairs of her Majesty's Treasury, Whitehall, Loudon, they may hear of something to their advantage. TF the RELATIONS or NEXT of KIN o f HENRY BENDING, late of No, 17, Prescott-street, Good man's-fields, in the county of Middlesex, Master Mariner, who died on or about the 26th of March, MI, will apply, either personally or by letter, to the Solicitor for the Affairs of her Majesty's Treasury, Whitehall, London, they may hear of something to their advantage. DRIIRY-LANE.—Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.— Reduced Prices as usual. THIS EVENING, Fan. 28, Will be performed an adaptation, written expressly for this Theatre by Mr. ItsTNOLDsoN, of Meyerbeer's Grand Opera, L'ETOILE DU NORD. To conclude with THE WRITING ON THE SHUTTERS. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Beckstone. THIS EVENING, FEB. 28, Will be performed MARRIED LIFE. Characters by Mesers Tilbury, Howe, W. Farren, Rogers, and Buckstene ; Mrs. Griffiths, Mrs. C. White, Misses E. Chaplin and E. Woulds, Mrs. Poynter. After which a new Ballot, entitled THE BULL-FIGHTER. To be followed by TAE BALANCE OF COMFORT. To conclude with a new Ballet by the Spanish Dancere, called TILE GALICIAN FETE.! ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CHARLES KEAN. For the BENEFIT of Mr. HULINE, Clown. THIS EVENING, FEB. 28, Will be performed HAMLET (last time this season). Principa; character by Mr. C. Kean. After which will be produced a New Grand Christmas Pantomime entitled, HARLEQUIN BLUE-BEARD; or, The Great Bashaw. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. auntie ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo arid Columbine, Miss Desborough. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, FEB. 28, Wlll be performed LITTLE TODDLEK ENS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, B. Baker, H. Butler, Mrs. F. Matthews, and Miss &inn To be followed by (9th time) a new Comic Drama, called TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING. After which will be produced the new and original Fairy Extra vaganza, entitled PRINCE PRETTYPET and THE BUTTERFLY. Box-office open from 10 until 6. Sole agent for Private Boxes, Mr. Al!croft, 15, New-Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Fza. 28, Win be performed a new and original Drama, preceded by a Pro logue, and called JANET PRIDE. To be followed by THE UNKNOWN AND THE BAYADERE. Characters by Messrs. P. Redford and G. Lee; Misses Woolgar and Keeley, and Mdiles. Maraquita and Benoni. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, FEB. 28, Will be presented the new Comedietta, called TIT FOR TAT, In Which Messrs. F. Robson, A. Wigan, and Miss Maskell will appear. Followed by A LUCKY FRIDAY. After which, a new Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE YELLOW DWARF AND THE KING OF THE GOLD MINES. Characters by Mr. F. Robson, Miss Julia St. George, Miss E. Ormonde, Miss Marston, Miss Bromley, and Mrs. Fitzallan. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Under the direction of Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING Will be performed a new Comedietta, entitled CITY FRIENDS. After which, the new Operatic Burlesque, entitled, ALONZO THE BRAVE. To conclude with the popular Barletta, OUR NELLY. Principal character, Miss Rebecca Isaacs. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke. THIS EVENING, - . The BATTLE of BALAKLAVI and of INK ERMANN, added, by a Third Act, to the successful Spectacle, the BATTLE of the ALMA, which this week reaches its 116th representation ! The addition embraces the ever -memorable charge of the British Cavalry, and also those tremendous hand-in-hand encountels which characterised the above engagements. After which, and to conclude with, a select and prolonged Series of SCENES hi the CIRCLE, invented by Mr. Wm. Cooke. Boa-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W West. Acting Manger, r. W. 11. Cooke. Equestrian Direct or Kr. w. Ca ke, jun. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TRus DAY - -MentißK 0 min.after 0 I Evening 13 rnin.aft, 12 fonnow • Morning 42 min.after 12 Evening 7 min.nh. 1 TTIE WEATHER.—Strx OFFICE, Feb. 28. TdERHONETICE, IN THE SHADE• 51—highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 50 —this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29'83. WIND, W.N.W.—Light, with mild, dull weather. la Ziyt ~-; r~;t~ 'l43t LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1855. Government mismanagement has nowhere been more conspicuous than in the transport service. Notwithstanding the number of vessels belonging to the Royal Navy lying idle and uselessly rotting away—notwithstanding the number of efficient offieeis on the half-pay list, a large proportion of whom would willingly have availed themselves of any opportunity of active service, no matter how onerous or perilous—it was determined that the resources of the Crown were not sufficient to meet the emergency, and that it was essential to charter private vessels to supply the palpable deficiency. The great steam-packet companies were therefore largely resorted to, as well as private shipowners. These companies had entered into contracts for conveyance of mails to various colonies and settle ments, and the vessels which they were compelled to place at the disposal of the Government were necessarily withdrawn from the stations for which they had been intended, to the great derange ment and detriment of the ocean postal system. The owners were of course largely remunerated. It could not have been otherwise. The estimates for the transport for the last and the current year enable us to form some notion of the enor mous outlay—which amounted last year to no lass than 3,582,4741., and which it is calcu lated Will amount to fully 5,081,4651., or 8,663,9391. for the two years—far more than the aggregate valu e of all the transports employed during any porti on of the period. We shall not now offer any commentary on the gross improvidence, the wanton extravagance of such a system. That it should be at all required, against established a prima facie case of ne g li gence If, however, the exigencies " My Lords." of the public service, the efficient and energeti c manage_ ment of the War, and the forwarding the Blip_ plies necessary to our gallant army in the Crime a required so large an expenditure, the people would not have complained, but, on the contrary, would gladly have liquidated a much heavier bill. Unfortunately, however, the service so liberally paid for was very indifferently performed. Many of thevessels were kept perfectly idle,!while even those engaged were not permitted to land their cargoes. Impediments and difficulties were on every occasion, and on the most trivial pretexts, thrown in the way. It was, in fact, as if the permanent employees thought that their most im- portant duty was to snub the " casuals," and to prevent the army from obtaining the slightest benefit from their efforts. If the most trivial formwere wanting—if the red tape were not tied in accordance with the approved official pattern, the stores were peremptorily re jected, no matter how urgent the demand. It was a difficult and expensive matter to send the stores from England to Balaklava, and very serious mistakes were made in the arrangement of the cargoes ; but it was trifling to the obstacles that arose after the arrival at their destination. The last seven miles occasioned tenfold greater difficulties than the preceding three thousand. A cargo of boots and shoes were sent three times backwards and forwards across the Black Sea, while our soldiers were fighting barefooted, or with straw wrapped about their bleeding feet. Potatoes were rejected when that baneful scourge, the scurvy, was present in our camp. The mas ter of the transport had, however, the good sense to give these invaluable esculents to the Greek population, who realised large sums by retailing at an enormous price what was intended to be gratuitously distributed ! But why multiply examples ? Much of the misery endured by our troops, aye, more, a large proportion of the mortality that has thinned the ranks of one of the noblest armies that ever left the British shores, may be directly traced to the mismanagement of the transport service, which has cost, or is to cost, 8,663,9391. sterling 1 And yet this is what the new Secretary for War thinks fit to defend ! The Noble Lord last night indignantly denied that "he had made an apologetic speech, or had admitted the existence of abuses !" To what, then, does he ascribe the demand for in quiry, the overthrow of the ABERDEEN Govern ment, and his own appointment as Minister for War ? If there were no abuses, why was the Duke of NEWCASTLE victimised ?—why was Lord ABERDEEN cashiered ? We trust the Noble Lord will explain these anomalies. It is, however, difficult to suppose the younger DROMIO would be willing to expose the blemishes and deformities of his twin brother; and to that we must ascribe the rather inconsistent praise best° Ned by the Secretary for War on the efficiency and judi cious management of the Transport Service ! The case of the Right Hon. T. F. KENNEDY occupied the attention of the House of Commons the greater portion of last night. Much ridicule has been cast on the friends of the deeply-injured gentleman for their attempts to obtain redress for the gross and palpable injustice with which he has been treated. Imputations were cast upon his veracity, integrity, and honour, such as, if permitted to remain unanswered, would have operated as a perpetual and insuperable obstacle to his employment in her MAJESTY'S service. These have all been withdrawn in the most distinct and explicit manner. Nay, more, it was stated by the Premier that the Right Hon. Gentleman had come out of the debate with his " character and honour free from all imputation !" He even undertook that there should be placed on record in the Treasury a full acknowledgment that " Mr. KENNEDY'S honour stands unimpeached !" These are certainly important conces sions. It cannot, therefore, be asserted that the time of the House has been wasted or misapplied. There was no other tri bunal to which he could have appealed. It is the theory of the British Constitution that there should be no wrong without a suitable and ade quate remedy ; and we therefore unhesitatingly say, that if th• grievance had beeu sustained by the poorest and least influential of her MAJESTY'S subjects the time of Parliament would have been well occupied in affording the tardy redress—suel, as it is—which has been obtained. We cannot, in any degree, admit the argument derived from the inconvenience that might occur if such inquiries were granted. We have seen many committees granted on matters of far less consequence. Mr. GLADSTONE claimed infalli bility for the Minister for the time being ; his demand that he should be allowed, at his mere will and pleasure, to damage irroparably the cha racter and prospects of any public servant is one that will never be sanctioned by the House, and still less by the country. Englishmen love fair play—to do as they would be done by, and the absolute irresponsibility asserted is one that would be more likely to find an echo in Russian than in English hearts. It is one under which any amount of tyranny and oppression might be justified. It may be right and proper that such a remedy should be but sparingly resorted to ; but its existence is exceedingly valuable, and may prevent the exercise o capricious authority in many instances. If a British subject should be enabled to parody the old !exclamation, "Civis Romanus sum," and to rely on it as a defence against unfair treatment ,n any country where he might be travelling, much more so should it lie within his power at home. If there were any fair and impartial tribunal to - which he could appeal, could any other mode of obtaining justice be disovered, then the appeal to the Commons House of Parliament might be opposed as superfluous and lawn venient. But, when it was clearly 'admitted that there is no existing jurisdiction adequate to the emergency, when the grievance was clearly established, and the unwarrantable impu tations withdrawn, then, we say, that the _ . public time was not misapplied—that it was the imperative duty of the representatives _ - of the people to create a remedy, if none were in existence, to prevent the arbitrary and improper treatment of one of themselves. "It is very fine, but it is not war." Such, in effect, for we do not at this moment remember the precise words, was the comment of the dis tinguished French General who witnessed the unparalleled feat of arms, that career through the jaws of death, of our Light Cavalry Brigade under Lord CARDIGAN at Balaklava. The comment is too suggestive to be left wholly unimproved, for never was the exercise of a dis crimination like that it reveals more necessary than at the present time. In a similar spirit, therefore, though with unequal skill, we venture to make a few remarks on two or three subjects of immediate interest in connection with the mighty struggle in which the nation is engaged. The Peace-at-any-Price Party, in furtherance of their unpatriotic and degrading views, point to the fearful loss of human life in the Crimea, and, appealing to the best feelings of our na t ure, as k if it i s not most desirable that a War requiring sacrifices o f such magnitude, and so appalling, should be put a stop to as speedily as possible ? To an appeal so plausible what have we to say in reply ? Sitnply this —the War does not, never did, and is not likely to require sacrifices so fear ' ful. The number of the slain in battle, and of wounds r ece i ved there, those who have died of does not amount to much more than a tith e of the number lost. The remainder —seven-t enths of them at least — have not been sacrificed t o th e Demon of War, but to the Demon of Caste, whose ptiestheod have been blind selfiahness, heartless Indifference, brainless Routine, and shameless Im• becility. " Our system of Constitutional Government is on its trial" cry some who ought to know bet ter, and others who do. Of what is it accused ? or what conceivable strain has it not borne ? Is it the fault of our Constitution that a cold blooded clique of grasping aristocrats have held the reins of Government and filled up every im portant post with their creatures during a forty years' peace ; and now that we have War, these creatures turn out to be incapables , —and every operation of the War and in connection with it has been bungled, and thousands on thousands of gallant men have perished miserably through their incompetency and neglect ? Is this the fault of the Constitution ? No—we say it is not. Such a state of things is very bad, but it is not the Constitution. It is the crime of a clique and the fault of the people, who, though in possession of a Representative form of Government, have not prized and exercised as they ought their rights and privileges Omnipotent, humanly speaking, if they please, it is the People, and not the Constitution, who are on their trial. Having suffered so much by unwarranted confidence in others, it is to be seen how far they are capable of righting themselves. It may be the Constitution is the worthier of the two. As for the governing clique, its reign of misrule is doomed. "We are not a military nation"—meaning essentially military—say some, quite in earnest, we believe, though by way of apology for the griev ous blunders that have been committed. The assertion is like truth, but it is not true. As though a people confessedly brave and fonder of adventure than any people in the world were essentially unmilitary ! A people► that actually make the best soldiers in Europe . A military nation, in a limited sense, we certainly are not ; but the fault is not immediately with the people. Essentially the nation is so. In no people does the raw material need less manufacturing to in sure like results. The fact is, the Horse Guards have weighed like lead on the military spirit of the people. The ruling caste have had the com mand of the army so much in their own hands that hardly any man of intelligent spirit, save from dire necessity, would enter the ranks. The system of selling commissions, instead of making them the reward of merit, has been an impassable barrier and a stumbling-block to talent ; and the result has been that the ranks having, until of late, been mainly filled with recruits from the lowest and most ignorant classes, have presented fewer temptations still to those who were inclined to enter them. Let there but be a fair prospect of merit being rewarded, and it will be seen whether the descen dants of the bowmen of Agincourt and Cressy, and of the victors of many a hard-fought field since, are a military people or not. It is said also that the love of economy, natural to an industrious commercial people with representative institutions, and which undoubtedly has been indulged in to a dangerous extent, must ever prevent us from being at all times the formidable military power our resources and the risk we incur warrant. We doubt it. There may have been indiscretion in carrying economy to a dangerous extent, but that, we contend, has only been the result of a natural reaction after a period of profligate expenditure. The nation, or we are deceived, is too proud and too prudent, with all its faults of omission, to grudge any expenditure needful for its safety and the maintenance of its rank among nations. The cold shade of aristocracy has been on it ; and injustice, as we have shown, is being done to account for the deplorable results. DETENTION OF THE AMERICAN' STEAM. SHIP lIERMANk. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, The mail steam-ship Hermann, which was to have sailed this day for New York, is detained in consequence of the great density of the fog. Should the weather be more favourable she will leave to morrow morning. ROYAL VISIT TO THE HAYMARET THEATRE. Last evening her Majesty and Prince Albert, accom panied by the Princess Alice, honoured this theatre with a visit. The pieces selected for the occasion were the lessee's successful comedetta of Married Life, in which he appeared in his original part ; the new Spanish ballot The Bullfighter, The Balance of Comfort, and A Gallieian Fete. The fascinating Perea Nena put forth all her powers, and never have we seen her dance to such per fection as she did last evening. The cachuchas aapa teados and sequidillas, previously witnessed " over the way," all sink into nothingness when compared with the boleros and fandangos of the vivacious and enthusiastic Senora. We cannot marvel at the pleasure the royal party seemed to experience in witnessing the twinkling feet of Nena as she performed her wonderful and ha. pulsive national dances, for where could we find a parallel for her new ones? In them we have all those points which have stamped her as one of thegreatest artistes of the day. The advance and recoil, the pursuit, and the astonishing whirl at the conclusion, are all given, and given with greater effect, it it be possible, than they were last year. The public last season had to be made familiar with true Spanish dancing, and therefore they did not then enter into the spirit of it as they now do ; and the royal party, we were delighted to see, were no exception to the general rule, and amongst the applauders of Perea not the least enthusiastic were the occupants of the royal box. Although the visit of her Majesty was kept a secret, the house was crowded in every part, and we had the satisfaction to observe that no attempt was made to intrude upon the privacy of the royal party. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge, and attended by the Viscountess Canning, the Hon. Mary Seymour, and Captain the Hon. D. de Ros, inspected the Model of Sebastopol, and also the Great Globe, in Leicester-square, yesterday afternoon. Prince Albert rode on horseback in the forenoon, al ,ended by Captain the Hon. de Ros. The Duke Of Cambridge visited her Majesty. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princess Alice, honovred the Haymarket Theatre with their presence in the evening. The royal suite con sisted of the Viscountess Canning, the Hon. Mary Sey mour, Earl Somers, Lord Alfred Paget, and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros. Viscountess Canning has succeeded the Countess of Desert as the Lady in Waiting to the Queen. Her Majesty will hold a Privy Council this afternoon at Buckingham Palace. The Countess Walewska held an assembly, last even ing, at the residence of the French Embassy, Albert gate House. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge enter tained a select circle of friends at dinner last• evening at his apartments in st. James's Palace. The Archbishop of Armagh, who has been residing at the archiepiscopal palace since autumn last,• is not ex pected to arrive in town for the season until May. The Duchess of Leinster, by accounts received in Lon don yesterday, is described to be in a more favourable state, and there is now reason to hope that her Grace's health may be restored. The Dtike and Duchess of Northumberland are not expected to arrive in town for the season until after Easter. The Earl and ,Countess of Camperdown and Lady Elizabeth Duncan were expected at their town residence yesterday morning, but will not arrive before Friday. They have been for some weeks guests of Mrs. Fergus son, of Archfield-house, N.B. The Countess of Carlisle remains at Castle-Howard in a convalescent state. Her ladyship is surrounded by several members of her family. Lord and Lady Southampton have left the Clarendon for Whittlebury-lodge, Northamptonshire. Her Majesty the Queen, and his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, have most generously forwarded to the - Bishop of London a sum of 3001., as a joint contribution to the "Association for Promoting the Relief of Desti tution is the Metropolis." LATEST NEWS. TILE CRIMEA. RUSSIAN VERBION OF THE ATTACK UP ON EUPATORIA. BERLIN, TUESDAY, FEB. 27, Advices from Sa. Petersburg of this day's date state• that the fo Vowing despatch had been re ceived from Prim a 3 Menschikoff, dated the 19th of February : On the 17th a portion of the troops encamped in the neighbourb c od of Eupatoria made a recon naissance against tie town to within a distance of 250 yards (toises). They opened a cross fire of artillery, and in a short time succeediud in dismounting a portion of the enemy's guns and in blowing up fire caisson* of ammunition. Having assured. himself that Eupatoria was defended by 40,0000 men and 100 guns, General Chruleff, who cornauanded the detachment, gave orders to retire out of range, which was done in perfect order. At Sebastopol Vile siege does not make progress. The Artillery I%.'nd sharpshooters continue to annoy the enemy. On the 13th we blew up a powder magazine in the French trenches. BERLIN, FEB. VT Lord John Russell had an audience of the King of the Belgians on Sunday. He sleeps at Magde burg to-night, and is expected here to-morrow. Privy Councillor Titoff, the Russian Plenipo tentiary to the Vienna Conferences, has arrived here. Baron Prokesch von Osten has been appointed second Austrian Plenipotentiary to the Vienna Conferences. A Russian Imperial ukase declares the Govern ments of Woronesch, Kursck, and Tchernigoff un der martial law, and places them under the corn• mand of Prince Gortschakoff. VIENNA, FEB. 27. The local papers publish the following intelli gence, from a Russian source, dated Sebastopol, Feb. 18 : A thaw has begun in the Crimea. Omer Pasha has his head-quarters on board a steamer off Eupatoria. The garrison of Sebastopol made a sortie towards the coast, but was repulsed. Numerous desertions had taken place from the French Foreign Legion. English deserters desire to enter the Russian service, and demanded to be treated as prisoners of war. The Fremden Blatt publishes advices from Balaklava of the 12th of February. It says that an order of the day had been issued by General Canrobert demanding 10,000 volunteers for an assault upon a portion of the fortress. The whole siege corps reported itself ready and willing. MARSEILLES, FEB. 27. The packet has just arrived with news from Constantinople of the 20th. EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, 1855. at Athens. The English troops stationed there were hourly expecting orders to embark for the seat of war. A rumour is afloat that several arrests have been this day made in Paris, and the names of some well-known persons are mentioned. Persons of some rank are also spoken of. The 11foniteur of yesterday contains a despatch from Batoun, of the Ist inst., confirming the an nouncement in yesterday's Sun of the repulse of a Russian force at Laghva, an advanced post of the Turkish army of Asia. Laghva was defended solely by 800 bashi-bazouks, without artillery. It also publishes the following despatch, dated Jassy, Feb. 11 :—" An electric telegraphic line is being constructed between Jassy and Czernovitz, in the Bukowina. It is hoped that it will be finished in May next." BOURSE, FEB. 27.—CLOSING PRICES.; Cash, fr. c. End of3lonth. 4 per Cents 95 20 95f. sc. 3 per Cents 66 15 66 20 Credit Mobilier 725 Roman Credit Foncier 537 50 Austrian Belgian Fives ...... .. Spanish Threes Piedmonteso — Home Debt RAILWAYS—FOR CASH. tr. c. Orleans 1,170 Ly ons Western 657 50 Rouen (iette Mediterranean 892 l 0 Havre Northern ft. c. LOl5 .002 50 807 50 550 545 RUSSIA. The Independance Beige publishes the following letter, dated Hamburg, Feb. 22 :—" Since the in tention of the Western Powers td land an army in Finland has been known in St. Petersburg, the Russian Government directs its most serious at tention to that quarter. The last accounts received here from Finland, via Sweden, announce that the military chiefs display the greatest activity in placing in a state of defence all the points along the coast of the two Gulfs where landings might be effected." A letter from St. Petersburg, 17th, in the Con stitutionnel, says :—" The Grand Duke Constan tine has lately paid several visits to Cronstadt, where military works are in course of execution, and several new batteries being constructed. The Czar himself has also made several excursions there, in order to satisfy himself that the arma ment of the forts in and around St. Petersburg is being proceeded with." AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Feb. 24.—A few days since the Em peror presided at a Cabinet Council, at which, as is said, the Eastern question with the approaching Peace Congress was t a k en i nto consideration. Ase' soon as the Council was over Baron von Hess had an audience of the Emperor. Prince Gortschakoff continues to affirm that his Imperial master entertains the most peaceful in tentions, but still all the news received from Russia bears a warlike character. Telegraphic intelligence has to-day reached this city that 40,000 men are to occupy Revel and the neighbour hood. Troops coming from the interior of Russia will be concentrated along the coast from Riga, in order to prevent a landing on the part of the Allies. On the 14th the fixed ice in the port of Odessa extended two wersts into the sea. WALLACHIA. A letter from Bucharest, of the sth, in the Pays, says— "A curious affair has occurred here, and has created some sensation Four persons wearing masks, but whose appearance indicated that they belonged to the higher classes, waited two days ago on Mr. Colquhoun, the English consul. On being introduced into his office they carefully closed the door. He at first thought they were Carnival maskers ; but they produced a number of papers and presented them to him. Amongst them there was a complaint, drawn up in strong terms, against the administration of Prince Stirbey. Mr. Colquhoun begged of them to take off their masks, but they refused. When they left he examined the papers and found that they contained some very curious details." Lord Lucan has arrived horo FLvui bite cam ea, and left this morning by a special train for London. He will demand a court-martial. General Niel has returned from the Crimea, and expresses great confidence as to the snccess of the siege. Some deserters affirm that the Emperor Nicho. las is expected at Sebastopol. The sorties of the Russians are less frequent since the Allies have established an improved and a effective system of signals. — The health of the troops has improved. General Vivian is appointed a general of divi sion of the Turks, with full powers to organise the army of Asia. - Circassian volunteers to the number of 40,000 have submitted themselves to regular discipline. Omer Pacha has lost his son-in-law at Eupa toria, by an attack of typhus fever. M. Koller, the Austrian Ambassador, has ar rived, and been received in a very flattering manner. The allies bad decided in blockading the north side of Sebastopol. A report was current at Constantinople that the blockade of the mouths of the Danube was to be raised in order to remedy the dearness of pro- visions. PARIS, WEDNESDAY, 8.30 A.M. A despatch from Pera, dated Feb: 19, pub- lished in the Moniteur, announces that General Niel was to return on the following clay to the Crimea. Different vessels had arrived on the 17th and 18th, with troops from Africa and France. On the date of the 17th the condition of the French army was excellent. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. The arrival of Colonel d'Olberg, aide-de-camp of General Wedell, was noticed yesterday. Every one is anxious to ascertain the result of his journey to Berlin, the nature of the despatches of which he was to be the bearer, and, in a word, whether the long-expected treaty, which, now more than a week ago, was oa the point of signature, has been received. Up to seven o'clock last evening nothing positive was known, and, though another day has passed, the latest accounts are nothing more than this, that there are reasons for believing that the King of Prussia desires an arrangement. The opinion here is that the Conferences will open in about eight or ten days from the present date, and that another Note will be presented to Prince Gortschakoff very soon after, with the conditions already proposed, and a categorical answer demanded without delay. Remonstrances ofa very decided kind have, it is said, again:been received from more than one foreign Government—Austria is mentioned in par ticular—against the projected journey to the Crimea—with what effect remains to be seen. We read in the Nouvelliste Vaudois : "The enlistment for the French service has become very popular among the military in Switzerland." Thel'outonnaisstates that from the 10th January to the 23d February, 7,417 men embarked in that port for the East. The numbers conveyed by the following ships were—the Caffarelli, 530 • Sitan, 435 ; Darien, 746 ; L ou i s XI V. 1,061 ; Labrador, 13 ; Christophe Colombe, 1,008 ' • Aigle, 160 ; Prince Jerome, 1,021 ; Hercule, 607 ; Lucifer, 89 ; Ulloa, 653 ; Syrene, 381 ; Provencale, 76 ; Semil lante, 394 ; Gassendi, 25 ; Cameleon, 200 ; and Gorgone, 18, (4,3 . c. Accounts from Athens, of the 24th inst., state that a battalion of French marines only remained PRUSSIA. BERLIN, Feb. 25.—Several papers have copied the following statement of what Prussia stipulates in the present negotiation with the Western Powers, viz.,—No diminution of the Russian ter ritory : all revolutionary elements to be kept in abeyance : no further demands to be made of Russia than those contained in the four points : no such conditions to be put to Russia as would be incompatible with her honour to concede and . Prussia's participation in the approaching peace conferences in Vienna. When these stipulations ate agreed to Prussia is willing to station 100,000 men on her Eastern frontier. The Preussische Correspondenz designates this statement as being possessed of no pretensions to authenticity. The Krru- 2,A5e,,,v announces the on January 16th, of the strong fortress belonging to the Tschetschenzes, called Schouaib Kapou, and generally styled the Gibraltar of Tschetschenia. The Russian forces were led by General Baron Nicolai, who contrived to surround the fortress so thoroughly and so unperceived by the enemy that Schamyl's garrison was hardly able to offer any resistance. CITY OF LONDON ELECTION.—The annual meeting of the Liberal Registration Association for the City of London took place at two o'clock yesterday, at the Lon don Tavern ; H. J. Prescott, the president, in the chair. The report of the proceedings of the business committee having been adopted, the question of the retirement and subsequent acceptance of office by Lord J. Russell was discussed. Mr. J. Dillon moved and Mr.T.Hall seconded the following resolution—" That the general committee of liberal electors be called for two o'clock on Thursday, in reference to the approaching election for the City of London." Amongst the gentlemen present were R. W. Crawford, K. D. Hodgson, Esq., H. Keeling, J. Dillon, T. Christy, W. H. Hall, F. Patteson, W. Hawes, W. G. Prescott, J. T. Travers, W. Leaf, R. Salomens, E. Wilson, and Sir James Duke, M.P. An advertise ment stating an intention of nominating Sir Charles Napier was alluded to; and it was also mentioned that an eminent conservative bad been waited upon by a de putation requesting him to allow, himself to be nomi nated, which request had been declined. DR. BARTH.—At a meetingof the Royal Geographical Society last evening, Dr. Shaw, the secretary, said that Dr. Vogel had written that the report of the death of Dr. Barth bad not been oonfirnied, as he had been as sured by many people that the doctor was in Timbuctoo as late as the month of July last, and could not there fore have started to meet the Niga Chadda Expedition, which during that month proceeded up those rivers. NEW OFFICIAL APPOINT 3 IENTS.—We understand that Mr. Rich, th.) nisau mi. a - oricshire, nas been appointed Under-Secretary to the Colonies, in the room of Mr. Layard. Sir Robert Peel was offered the situation of Clerk of the Ordnance, in the place of Mr. Monsell, but has declined to accept it. Mr. Monckton Miines has also, we are assured, declined to accept the office of Lord of the Treasury, which was offered to him by Lord Palmerston. Mr. Laing has likewise declined the situation of Vice-President of the Board of Trade.— Mo fling Advertiser. ACCIDENT ON THE MIDLAND RAlLWAY.—Yesterday (Tuesday), at about 11 30 a.m., a collision occurred be tween a goods train proceeding from Burton to Leices ter, and an empty waggon train, from Rugby to Derby, at Knighton Junction, a short distance south of Leices ter, fortunately without serious consequences. Both trains were thrown off the line, and completely blocked up the way. Knighton Junction, the scene of the acci dent at Christmas, by which a lady lost her life, is the junction between the Burton and Leicester and the Bur ton and Rugby lines, and is in the form of a triangle, the line from Burton to Leicester having a very steep ascent. The present accident appears to have occurred in a similar way to the one in December last,—namely, misapprehension or neglect of signals. The express mail due to leave Euston station at 9 15 a.m., and the train due from Euston at 10 30 a.m., were each delayed upwards of an hour. SALE OF THE SOUTH SEA -HOUSE.—The sale by auction of this important property took place at the Mart yes terday, and attracted an extremely crowded attendance. The biddings commenced at 25,0001., and after a spirited competition the hammer fell at 55,750/. The purchaser was Mr. Marsh Nelson, the architect, but whether on his own behalf, or for a society, did not transpire. The second lot comprising the tap-room of the Flower Pot public-house, and let to Messrs. Calvert, at tenants at will, at 251. per annum, realised 1,0001. GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.—Yesterday afternoon the 60th halfyearly meeting of the share holders in this company was held at their offices, 71, Lombard-street ; John Wilken, Esq., in the chair. The report of the directors, and a statement of the accounts for the year ending 31st December last, were read to the • meeting. The report, which was very satisfactory, was unanimously received and adopted by the proprietors. The usual dividend and bonus were declared, and the cordial thanks of the proprietors voted to the chairman and directors for their continued zealous services in the management of the company's affairs ; after which the meeting separated. BALL OF A CHAPEL WALL—LIVERPOOL, Tuesday.— To-day, while the chapel connected with the workhouse was undergoing alteration, the wall suddenly fell and caused the death of one man, and the wounding of two others, who lie in a dangerous state. BIRMINGHAM BANKING COMPANY.—The 25th annual meeting of this company was held on Monday afternoon. The report stated that the reserve fund amounted to 100,0001., and their business connection gave fair promise of continued prosperity. The business of the past year, after all necessary and prudent reductions, had yielded a profit of 43,6251. 14s. 2d. The dividend of 108., and the bonus of 108. per share (201. shares, 101. paid up), for the first half-year, paid in September last, took 20,0001. of this amount, aid it was now recommended to the meeting to declare a dividend of 103. per share, or at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, and a bonus of 10s. per share, and to authorise the residue (including the small surplus of last year) to be carried forward to the current year. The report of the directors was adopted, and the dividend recommended declared, pay able on the Ist March. DUBLIN, Feb. 27.—The Daily Express says :—" have reason to know, on good authority, that Earl St. Germans will continue in office as Lord-Lieutenant cf Ireland ;" and as a sequence it adds that the report of Mr. Brewster's retirement from the post of Attorney- General must be without foundation. This latter report, nevertheless, continues to receive very , general credence. THE DEAD•HOUSE AT SCUTARI.—The following is an extract from the letter of a private in the 23d Welsh Fusiliers to his parents at St. Asaph, North Wales : "I have been some time recovered, and am now an orderly in the hospital, looking after the sick. There are 200 sick coming down every week, most of them frostbitten, their big toes coining off. I don't expect to go up this winter--it is too cold up there ; but I shall go in spring, and then I shall be ready for Sebastopol. I shall volunteer for the first forlorn hope that may be required, and then for a gold chain or a wooden leg ! I am determined to have satisfaction on some Russian or other before I shall leave this country alive. lam not half satisfied at being wounded at Alma, for I would rather have been wounded at Inkerman, and then I could have seen some sport. I had no chance at Alma to see much, but we shall have some sport to drive the Russians from Sebastopol. Dear mother, I am very sorry to inform you that we bury from 50 to 60 a-day. I have seen as many as 60 put into one hole. There are men doing nothing but digging graves here I am . not talking a b out t h e F rench, only the British army_ Dear moth er , I canoed a young man that died in mf, ward this mo rn i ng . It i s not hi ng to see as many as 4`," in the de a d-h ouse, w h en I go there at 7 o'clock in morning. There are as many as 40 who have died in the night, let alone the daytime. The Turks are from the first thing in the morning to the last at night carry ing them to the grave. Your affectionate son, EDWARD Ilefaue." overhauled and copper cleaned. The Caire, French postal steam-Pac'o") Marseilles on the 18th, having on board eno ri murdo, dire c t or genera l o f the l an d tran. o r g foroti corps about to be raised in Asia Minor, l3 ° / "f o r , t o ot, principally the supply of horses and to lli k e n 9 u tr th oe; of which dep o t s w ill b e formed in and $7, tbil,s'" The Crcesus, s t eam - transport, arrived ° - if sly from Portsmouth and Plymouth, out 1,1 - 41 1 ,0 4 „ and a half from the last-mentioned ports l o co OPI Colonel Heyland, Lieutenant Fit.zolno,,di _, Wright, Matan, and Beauchamp, oft'ororar; Blake, Lieutenant Massey, Ensigns D' A lirie,`: worth, of the 19th ; Capt. Baynes, Liel l 7o $ 0 " Holden ; Ensign s H ac k e tt an d Dane „ 10 ) ",0 1 tains Bourke and P ee l, Li eu t enan t Jo ' rn i ;V te stg l ,... Dunbar, of the 34th ; M a j or F or b es , Lt h. o f Noun, Ensigns Dodd, Ennis, and 114 7,;eigns Cas e i ptuctthaeiennl n Mt and D a Maynard aEhrilao Evans, d En A f fn s the hg u en l s e v B. ,z e go r itt : ht r ece ' ; nai3h C :r e irt 13 Pj d i ce n .011Li; Ruthven of the let Batta,lion Lieutenants Ryder, Moore, ogg eo 0,1 , and •eei r t, sioned officers and privates of various rearm the in the Crimea, forming the nucleus of t° 10,000 about to be collected at Malta. jf / The Crceius still rema i ns i n harbour. Alre4lo The Arabia, screw-transport, which, as „tio , tioned, arrived from Balaklava and ConeWo oilei the 19th, brought the following officers/ 0 1 .; are invalids—viz., Paymaster Hadley, Lieutenant Martin, R.A., who landed at to the following who left in her for E n gland Captain Orleb ar , 93,1 ; C a pt a i n S ou th, tx°fott r ' r; Vex, of the Ist Light Dragoons ; Capt. lorry Brigade ; Captains Nixon, Lindsay, R° s , s 'Ael°, Drummond, of th e Rifl e B r i ga d e ; Cop' Gelll4 Major Tyler, 62d ; Li eu t . B arrett, 19th ; ot. 77th; Capt.Johns,23d ; C ap t,D awson ,93dlo 95th; Surgeon Chew and Major Taylor, Elrington and Elliott, of the Rifle Brige 4 . B ofty/ Haitnes, of the 20th ; Lieut. Colonel J .,,Voci, 88th ; Major Baumgartner, of the 28th ; ; of the 17th ; Major Ladnee, of the 47 0 40; I of the 93d ; M a j or C unn i ng h am , o f the f ibl o k Swinborne, of th e 18th ; C apta i n E a rle, t jelf Captain Daure, o f th e 79 t h -; Captain P " . . o kle 49th ; Captain Rocke, of the 23d ; C°' ll ,4o of the 79th ; 193 n o n - comm i ss i on ed offi' - eOl O vates, and 9 soldiers' w i ves o f var i o us regigen; , 'pander Hore, R.N., lately appointed to Malta, came passenger in the same steam' ~10/ r r#. THE STATE OF THE ESCHEW:TR.— Tr l, a node- , I/ l e , Mr. Macgregor, the memb er f or Glasgolbo notice of his intention to move for a return/10).#, a specified day of the present month- 4 4,14 ment balances in the hands of th e Bank 41 '0 , p soi The amount of Deficie nc y Bill s a t the 1 10 0 01 00 09 number and amount of Exchequer Bine j PlO a i dates when payable. 4. Th e nu mber s e o d r Treasury Bonds, the rat es o f interest,, t bs 70; when payable. 5. A f orma l statement of 01 1 •0 1 the Bank of England. This return, whie e ' o l r g o may be furnished with little difficulty, In t thy teresting to the tax-paying community ,Ak, moment. Indeed, the information it ..," been much required.—llloraing Adverti.'; Arpr i , CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRA l4l o igre t oe ,61 0 —The report of the directors of the C li pi is er °6 llo% India, Australia, and China has been i_ sB o iii cates a strong wish on the part of the how" te l with the undertaking. With a view t„d i Xosr e 1 with another Indian banking companty e l l,.4,„ tii° the proprietary body shareholders of yroP pr oidire connected with India, negotiations of a JP - ,,,0 T he are stated to be in progress. Replies t o iti e ro. d er directors' overtures are looked for in a . F . ,00. t ii t he the directors will deliberate with the sri e fO, „ I v)/ retirement of the dissentient scriphoim o p to AL IO tioned, has been secured without any d i v ot; r,n9o l ' funds of the company. The assets aro e,, 0 0 0 of 92,04 V. in securities bearing interest l e cash. The preliminary expenses are 0 ' A A ( The paid.up capital is 97,7001. _.... fr oo a 10, THE BALAKLAVA. RAILWAY.—Advic7 0 01 1 1, 0 11? of the 10th state that the railway 120 f t lie'll,,4 up the greater part of the main street ° Tu rbO irf or: o o the engine had been astonishing the „ 0 0 0 '40 1 puffs of steam from its iron lungs, and V ir tbo. to jig and screams as it had been put in &al by if 1 rd outside the Post-office-yard, in order to The lido A-00 tution had suffered by the sea voyage' . are a O r ill i simply constructed ; the wooden sleePe r h - e r ork4i s. 9l longitudinally over a bed of stones V: ia t e ," rlf:ftsii iii 4 rails are fastened down on them- J-w - s rdo -la 1 breadth of the main street. About 501 ow l is to fr" been laid down in the street, but the i' s poil A A i l places in a state of forwardness, and WI "Orobes; to receive the rails. ~i ro cir.""t b s,,, THE BARNSTAPLE ELECTION COMIC - tt i 0 „..cinik the committee re-assembled ; Mr. P l ? e d in by - o lietl ifi li The earlier part of the day was oco o l a c erto in r iod ß l t transmission of, and in identifying , eree t PI s oor ill signed by Mr. Laurie, and paid at &t o t aou g oo: e ' i the Union and British Banks, for 4 _ la nd o if fo r spectively. Mr. G. W. Wastheo, Th e a s th e m e" Great George-street, in the same b° 11 %,, G 1 6 C o r - V, i i le Mr. Curnsew, deposed to having reoe l .ros eio, e itbroe 4001. on the 21st of August from C d " a id ii 00 ( Id his clerk, He got it cashed, an, ee li s , üb ec ioripl; Curnsew, or on his acconnt. Reeei v epr eses e 'dire e cto 2d September, for 3001., from gr. _ der his ~e eel the proceeds away for his use and 13 " re d to.; ou' i j l e In cross-examination it was endeav eu _ d by t bl . oo of o of that the various payments rner:ti en L ele et .. lo l 6 s were fur purposes connected with r ai l e d, bu rs e bet ti sitting members. Mr. Vivian wa s _„ dea voeg IP answer, and it was stated that 311.71"ence be ettoc, serve him had been .in vain. T E k vl soe tt tfie t bel given of this, Mr. Seijcant King t _ u e ld infor tje o gbi IP Guinness, said that his clients wu they tb 000 ,,, 0 f mittee at the next sitting whet be % n tly, Iv V i ol' t e li n o . l .l33o: t b° sori.. d i r ri g could carry the case further, effiT. our eeri .0 1 0,0 0 Guinness. The committee then a°l ~,a 0 ( 0 . 4 0%0 next, to ive time for the prod9otww,eld 'i i , g' mating ma tt e r that to th e i f h h o e us d e i , d a n n o d t reappear,eornra into the custody of the Sergeant -at , er son° pr.' CRYSTAL PALACE.The nun) was 5,317 ; and the receipts 191/ 7 u the Palace during the week endbienrg,s7b6re/.24° TURKEY. PIEDMONT. The Journal de Francfort gives the following in a letter from Genoa, 15th :—" His Majesty Victor Emmanuel, who has been so severely afflicted in his family relations by losing three members of it in less than a month, entertained an idea of abdicating in favour of the Prince of Pied mont, his eldest son. It required the supplications of his Ministers and of Prince Eugene to make him comprehend that he ought not to quit his elevated post. We are expecting some English steam-frigates here in order to embark 12,000 men, for whose con veyance we have not vessels enough. It is said to be in contemplation to unite the Sardinian army to 10,000 French, 5,000 English, and 6,000 Turks for an expedition towards Caffa and Theodosia. A simi lar invitation to that made to Sardinia to join the Western Powers was made to the King of Naples, but Ferdinand 11. has determined on a strict neu trality, and it is for that reason that he has forbid den his brothers-in-law the Count d o M on t emol i no and the Infante Don Sebastiano, to make Naples the hotbed of Spanish conspiracies. The British government have contracted with that of Turkey to render available for the supply of the English steamers the coal fields of Erekli or Heraclea, which are to be worked by the English. A considerable reinforcement of pitmen is shortly► expected from England to strengthen the hands of the staff now oh the spot, who with their present means have been able to deliver coals of excellent quality at a cost under 10$. per ton for actual working expenses. The Danube of Vienna says :—" It is affirmed here in well-informed quarters that the instruct tions of the Porte, for the intended Conferences are of a very pacific character. The Porte demands a war-indemnity of 500 millions of piastres (about 125 millions of francs), and renounces all idea of an augmentation of territory. As to the question of the guarantees, she leaves the appreciation of them to the allies." The King of the Belgians came to Brussels from the Palace of Lacken on Sunday morning, and gave a pri vate audience to Lord J. Russell, who had just arrived in company with Lord Dufferin, Mr. Eliot, and Mr. Byng• The interview between the King and Lord J. Russell lasted a considerable time, after which his Ma jesty returned to Lacken. STIRLINGSHIRE ELECTION.—The nomination for this county takes place on Monday next, March 5. It is be lieved that Mr. Blackburn, of Killearn (Conservative), will be allowed to walk the course. The Duchess of Parma and her two children, Duke Robert and Princess Margaret, returned on the 19th to Parma from Modena. WIMBLEDON ;AND CROYDON RAILWAY. - Yesterday the third half-yearly meeting of this company was held at Fendall's Hotel, Palace-yard—W. Reed, Esq. in the chair. The reported stated that great difficul ties had existed in the way of getting possession of the land, but that the directors had made every exertion to overcome the obstacles which presented themselves, ant hoped that the railway would be ready for business at a period which would give to the company the advan tage of the summer's traffic. The receipts had amounted to ;20,470/. 3R. 101., and left a balance in hand of 2,0361. 19s. 9d. The report having been adopted, and the retiring directors and auditors re-elected, the proceedings terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the chair man. [ A DVERTISEMENT.]—Diseases of the Kidneys, Bladder, and Prostrate Gland, and their connection with the Ganglionic or Great Central System of Nerves ; being a reprint (considerably enlarged) of a series of papers bear ing upon the more important and prominent symptoms, and the most successful mode of practice in the treat ment of diseases of those organs—in the press, and will be speedily published, by Dr, Denis Cronin, 35, Bruton street, Berkeley-square, - - CON STANTINOPLE, Feb. 15.—Within these last few clays a rumour has been afloat in respect to the approaching retirement of Lord Redcliffe. Gen. Rose, in this eventuality, is also reported as des tined to the succession. All concur in thinking that our Government could not possibly make a better choice than General Rose for the post of ambassa dor at Constantinople. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE AFRICA. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY. The royal mail steam-ship Africa, Harrison, commander, arrived in the Mersey this evening, with advices from New York to the 13th, Boston 14th, and Halifax to the 15th ult. inclusive. The Africa brought 133 passengers and 362,189 dollars, with 4,600/. sterling in specie. There is very little local news of interest by this arrival. The United States Senate had agreed to confer upon Major-General Scott the title of lieutenant general for distinguished services. A telegraphic despatch from New Orleans states that a portion of an expedition, between 3,000 and 4,000 strong, had sailed against Cuba from that port. The Prometheus has arrived at New Orleans, with dates from California to Jan. 24, and reported the Northern Light, en route, with 6)0,000. dol lars. The Californian markets were dull, with declining tendency. Later Mexican dates, received via New Orleans, report a Provisional Government established at Acapulco, with Alvarez at its head.• Several States had declared for Alvarez. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, FEB. 13. Money in active demand, but supply is abundant at 7 to 8 per cent. on first class paper, and at 6 to 8 per cent. on call. There was a slight concession in prices at the stock market. Low and middling qualities of cot ton declined f per cent. on report of Atlantic's news. Flour steady; common to good State brands for export ranging from 8 dole. 25c. to 8 dols. 50c. ; Canada white free wheat at 2 dols. 32c., and good white Southern at 2 dols. 203. Pro visions, without change of moment. Freight ra ther easier. Exchanges on London are 109 to 1091 ; Paris, 5, 12, to 5, 161. DESTRUCTION OF TWENTY THOUSAND RUSSIANS. A letter received from Malta, dated Feb. 21, contains the following : The Arabia, one of the Cunard line, has per formed the trip from Constantinople to Malta in the incredible short space of 63 hours. This vessel brought a report that 45,000 Russians had marched for Sebastopol, under the command of the Grand Duke Michael ; but they had lost 20,000 by the ice thawing, and consequently de taining them long on the road. The remainder had reached Sebastopol, but in a pitiable con dition. The following changes are to be made in the army :—Sir Colin Campbell to have the First Divi sion ; Sir John Campbell to have the Highland Brigade ; and General Bentinck to command the Fourth Division. The Brigade of Guards are to join the Highland Brigade under Sir John Camp bell. Sir George Brown commands the Light Div sion. ARRIVALS AT MALTA. MALTA, Feb. 21.-- 2 0ur report under Ole! to-day's mail is not less interesting than the 7 1 conveying as it does the arrival from Euglandfil and immediate d e p ar t ure a ft er re plenishing OA seat of war, of a continued long line of troop laden steam-v esse l s ; an d, with the remarl?.:l weather prevailing in the Black Sea, cannot an bring to a crisis the fate of Sebastopol, that o!y ei of the enemy, which, from a sad want of fo e 7 and energy at the commencement, has calls harrowing sacrifice of human life. The arrival on the 19th inst. of the Ave ship, only three days out from Constantin o p le, • valids, bring s a t length cheering accounts of tbe si having been fine, and, comparatively spealcill'o fluencing a m a t er i a l i m p rovemen t in the b ea `_, troops, and p erm it t i ng , no t on ly of the tre 7 hut., clothing, stores, and artillery to the ca O3 l l A seaside, but the rapid progress of the railroad important works in progress. vs ho The French saili ng -t rans p or t Stentor (Eagj o il and Phoenix (French colours), arrived from . LL '7 , 6l the 10th, b r i ng i ng 3 offices, 69 troopers, and The former left on the 11th and the latter ea both for Constantinople. D oro The Egyptien, French screw steam - tra a k from Marseilles on the 10th, with 18 bore i d of carts, an d a quant i ty o f prov i s ions, all u t . r d board M. D'Ubezey chef d'escadron, 17 t)te ` 40 non-commissioned officers and privates,_.o labourers, w ith w h om s h e lef t f or the Cris" 12th. The Durham, screw steam-transport Poi arrived from London on the 10th with a c ar g ° ing, and left for the Crimea on the 11th. The Candidate, steam-transport, with 4 611 110 railway plant, arrived from London on the 0 0, proceeded onwards to the Crimea on the eare lowed on the 12th by the Pioneer, another se transport, 107 Frenchithst o te res s ,l a ik m e . w fr i i s g e a f t r e om Lond°l3' t The to ed p II from Toulon, b r i ng i ng Li eut. Celoselarr De ri officers, 601 non-commissioned officers a",r the infantry, 52 artillerym and 60 ho rs '' fur the Crimea on the 1/llb men, ;e a . on To The Lucifer, s crew s t eam corvette, arr- e c t he from I onion, b r i ng i ng Li eut. M ar tin / °L.. An t - non-commissioned officers and privates of l'i e ftlef 11 artillerymen, w ith 16 more horses. She Crimea on the 15th. l ed The Amsterdam, French postal-steam er ' Marseilles o n th e 13 t h , two days a fter h ys .ng, from stress of weather, put int o . o . ? j ii all her vacant space was filled up hi ''''„ r ; a O i ls" city, merchant, with oranges and log l°— , o ' d army. She had on board 17 officer e c v ron commissioned offi cers and privates.' up wards to Constantinople on th e 13th, takwv General Pennefather. sc° The Minos, T unes i ne s t eamer, arr ive d i i , e ls the 13th, and l e ft f or C onstant i nop l e on t' ot •00 ing, besid es p rov i s i ons f or the Tunesice:ll,4l.o Batoum and six horses, Colonel Ali officers, and 190 non-commissioned office r° a ril"' The llydaspes, Fren c h p os t a l steamerl,,, snd Constantinople and Smyrna on the l'T'oig board Major H o tl e , C apta i ns Morello, Be s ` ° 'l t hil i. i/ awl seven inv a lid e d E ng li s h so ldi er s for. iber t, 'I Majors You ng an d Adamson, Captain Beaumont, D r . L econte lli n, the R e v. 3fr French officers, 150 non-commissioned ott. - c b vates ' and 6 seamen, f or M arse ill es , for w took her departure on the 14th. Liver' 0' The screw steam er Arabian, from 1 0 7'0' on the 14th, a n d l e ft f or C onstan tino Pei day, embarki ng a t M a lt a, to j o i n th e 1 34 r, in the Crimea, Captain Porter, CaP ei° Of Lieutenant James. The Peninsular (No. 172), from London's nition, clothing, &c. ; the Whitley Park ( 1 1, London, w i th s t ores f or t h e army ; and t ro from Port smou th, w ith prov i s i ons an d screw steam-transpo r t s , arr i ve d on the 15„11 '":00' The schooner Brunette, from Glasgooly, „‘' adventure for the C r i mea , sa il e d on the 7 0 ' 0 r The schooner Z e phy re tt a , w ith pro rived from P or t smou th on the 13th. The Indus left for Al exan d r i a ear ly 00 Ole o il l the 15th, and m a y b e l oo k e d f or b a ck b° when she will leave for Southampton. o fi t ) i' 4 The Vectis leaves th is a ft ernoon (the sth, seilles, to meet th e L on d on ma il s o f the het been this week d oc k e d i n or d er to have ~~ Imp E littaus / ll° BPRAi The _ trtherz g li ci . (j lll ' an d ti; . n) Prov itte erael o the kin" rao , r Zilether the 0: 14 b e int] - Pani eB kr tike "'at d a i, the "e ' a 81; 7 , a PPear e F or th 4-gainE b•'11 4 Pe wa 18-418ter I k, , ttik: l o , l , 3lcl e p i AZ . 13 40/ 4 4; 4 . STA t , u2 who ci Z etic e 0. t Jesse k r ° admit C O WA k 4 - e th at 4 WILS C t th e 11 ' l e Vie w dUti„ 0 ; I"QPA I