The Sun. — London, England, 1855-11-21 00:00:00

JTJLLIEN'S CONCERTS. - ROYAL • ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Last Week but Three.—Fifth Night of THE FALL of SEBASTOPOL QUA DRILLE.—The Programme for T:IIS EVENING (Wednesday, Nov. 21) will include :—Beethoveres Overture, Egmont ; L'Enfant Pro digue Quadrille ; the Andante from Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony ; Ah non Giunge, and The Forest Fairy, sung by Madame Gassier ; La Belle du Village Valse ; Solo, Violin, by M. Stainten (his first appear ance this season) ; the Scherzo Presto from Beethoven's Symphony In A (second time) ; M. Jullien's New Grand Descriptive Military Quadrille, entitled THE FALL OF SEli XSTOPOL, assisted by the military Bands (fifth time) ; Grand Operatic Selection from Les Huguenots (last time but one) ; the Katydid Polka; the Scherzo froth Mendelssohn's Sc,tch SYraphony ; Solo, Flute, b y Herr Re'chardt ; Galop, Vivo PEmpereur, Sce. Prices of admission :—Promenade, upper boxes, amphitheatre stall; and amphitheatre, Is.; dress circle, 25. 6d, ; private boxes, 12s 11. Is., and 11. 1 ls. 6d. Places and private boxes may be had at the box-ofaceof the theatre, of Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Hook barn, and Messrs. Andrews, Bond-street ; and at Messrs. Jullien and Co.'s, Regent-street. M. Jullieffs Gr 1855 and Annual Bal Masque will take place on Men day, Dec. 17, . THEATRE ROYAL, DRITRY.LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, Will be performed AN IMPUDENT PUPPY. After which, TWENTY MINUTES WITH A TIGER. To be followed by NITOCRIS. Characters by Messrs. E. F. Ed gar, Stuart, B. Sullivan, G. Wild, C. Vincent, &c.; Miss Glyn, Mrs. Selby, Miss De Vere, Miss Anderton, Miss Cleveland, &c. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMA.RKET. Under the Management of Mr. Rnekstone. THIS EVENING, Will be performed GUY MANNERING. Characters by Messrs. Villiers!, Compton, and Howe; and Miss Swanborough and Miss Cushman. Followed by THE LITTLE TREASURE. To conclude with A RISS IN THE DARE. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CHAILLTA XisAN. TO-MORROW EVENING Will be performed THE RIVALS. To conclude with THE MULETEER OF TOLEDO. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Will be performed MARIE DUCANGE ; or, The Jersey Girl. After which, the comedy of FOREIGN AFFAIRS. To conclude with BETTY MARTIN. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. J. H. Anderson, 13, Norfolk-street, Strand. Increased Attractions, and saccess in equal ratio THIS, AND EVERY EVENING, at Eight o'Clock, Will be presented, with entirely New and Magnificent Appoint ments, N! and ',IYSTEitYI, in twelve acts, arranged in two parts, by Professor Anderson. After which, the startling illustrations of Spirit-Rapping. HALF AN-HOUR WITH THE SPIRITS, being the most surprising and interesting series of experiments ever given within the walls of any theatre. Revival, in an improved form, of the astoundin4 novelty which Startled London 10 years ago, the GREAT GUN TRICK ! Pfie,s of admission:—Private Boxes, U. I Is. 6cl. and U. Is. ; Orchestra Stalls, 45.; Dress Boxes, 35.; Upper Boxes, 25.; Pit, Is ; Gallery, 6d. No Half-price. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Gran 1 Morning Performance on Saturday Next at Two o'Clock. Doors open at Half-past One. rtOYAL STEM RAID THEATRE. Under the direction of Mr: Payne. THIS EVENING, Will ba performol NICHOL Ai NICKLEBY. After which, a SPA NISEI BALLET, by the Spanish Dancers. Followed by NI rOCRIS. To conclude with THE LADIES' CLUB. HJYAL OLY\IPIC THEATRE, TIM EVENING, After which PLOT AND PASSION* Characters by Messrs. F. Robson, Emery, G. Vining, Leslie, .f. H. - White, H. Cooper, and Franks; and Mrs. Stirling and Miss Bromley. Followed by CATCHING A MERMAID. To conclude with A BLIGHTED BEING. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke. THIS EVENING. Mademoiselle CLEMENTINE SOULLIER, the greatest Eques trian Artiste in the World ! (Vide " Times," 13th Nov.) Mr. W. Coolies Leviathan PROVINCIAL EQUESTRIAN ESTABLISH KENT, during this week only Also, the Spectacle, The FALL of SEBASTOPOL ! After which, the GEMS of the CIRCLE ; with the Magnificent Act of Mile. &wilier, and the Performance of the Provincial Esta blishment; with other Entertainments. t;o-o Th.e ooen from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. W,+'. Eqnqqtrlan Director, Mr. W. Cooke. Jun. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tdrg DAY—Morn. 49 min. aft. 11—Evening 0 min. aft. 0 0-Ifonnow—Morn.l4 min.aft. 12 —Evening37 min. aft. 12 THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, Nov. 21. THERMOMETER, IN THM SHADE. 45 - highest since noon yesterday. 42 -lowest this morning and. during the night. 43 -this day , at noon. BAUOMETEB, 29. Wun-.—N.E.—Light, with hazy weather, but fine and dry for the season. ' -~: nfl~, $ LONDON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1855. Large quantities of valuable stores have re cently been destroyed in the vicinity of the Sea f Azoff. .Stores which, if permitted to remain in he hands of the Russians, would have materially assisted in feeding their troops in the Crimea during - the winter, and possibly led to the pro longation of the contest for at least another year. Great gallantry and sound judgment were displayed in the operations conducted by the officers and men engaged in these transactions. But, unfor tunately, the operations have not been on a suffi ciently extensive scale. The supreme authorities have not been by any means as energetic as the parties actually engaged. The necessary permis sion has not been accorded to those who are only panting for a suitable opportunity for distinguish ing themselves, and greatly serving their country. The allied fleets long since obtained a complete command over the Spit of Arabat, and thus closed up a very important route, by which valuable re inforcements might have been conveyed into the Crimea—but by some unaccountable neglect the posterns of this very important avenue have been allowed to remain in the hands of the enemy. W e might easily h a ve hermetically seal e d the channel by taking possession of the point of entrance o r o f exit by seizing on Genitchi or Arabat. By eithe r course we might have maintained our suprem acy at all seasons, and rendered the road itself per fectly useless to our opponents. But, unfortu nately, we remained contented with half measures. We were satisfied with the certainty that nothing could be conveyed across the spit while our war cruisers remained in the neighbourhood. It, however, seemed to be forgotten that, when the frost has fairly .set in, our vessels will be utterly useless, and that the important position, which might so easily have been made our own, would be restored to the enemy. In addition to this grave oversight the Tchougar road, as well as that by 'Perekop, were allowed to remain in their hands without the slightest interruption, so that great facilities were afforded to the enemy for prolonging th e contest. All these matters might, as we have repeatedly explained, have been effected more than twelve months ago. The same curse, ho wever, still hangs over our efforts. We are still "too l a t e ," an d unless something be speedily effect e d we may have abundant cause to lament our apathy and indifference. It has not been for Want of due warning. We can justly claim credit for having pointed out these matters while there Was ample time for arranging every plan and detail, and carrying it into practical execution. However, therefore, we may deplore the serious mistake, we can refer with satisfaction to our own numerous and emphatic warnings. It was generally believed at the Allied Camps that a vigorous effort would be made to retrieve the error, and that an expedition would have been organised against Kaffa, by means whereof not only the command of Arabat, but of the en tire p en i nsula of Kertch, would ave been placed in our hands. This bvious precaution has, h owever, been disre ded, and the edition has not b een de. naUls Uhurobiard ; 5, rAciwzuu•ay.v. , " - THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY _E'VENING, NOVEMBER 2l, 1855 spatched. There may be adequate reasons for the present postponement, but there can be none for the past delay. That, at least, seems to be with out the slightest justificatiOn or palliation. Had Kaffa been taken some months since, and a demonstration only was wanting, the whole of the peninsula of Kertch would have remained perma nently in our hands, as well as Arabat itself; and with it the chief, if not the only communication with the Eastern districts. Genitchi, too, *night have been easily held, and that would have formed a basis of operations against the Tchongar road, as Kaffa would have done against Simpheropol and all the central districts of the Crimea. There has been even greater negligence dis played on the Asiatic coast. OMEIt PACER has at length taken the enemy in the rear, and cut off the communications. A zealous co-operation with the independent tribes would have averted the danger to Kars, and the operations against the Ottoman dominions in Asia, from which such serious evils might have occurred but for the vigorous defence so ably organised by General WILLIAMS, and the officers and men under his command, and the tardy but brilliant operations under 02.rzR Pecn.A. Let the Russians be re stricted to the Caspian route as the only means of escape from the trap in which they have now suffered themselves to be caught. Now is pre-eminently the moment to look honestly at the causes of our imperfect success. If we must in these days of the telegraph and the railroad adhere to the old military practice of retiring into winter quarters, let the Council Chamber and the manufactory be collecting the storm-clouds and forging the thunderbolts against the fated hour. Nations struggling for their own liberty have not shrunk from a winter cam paign ; and ever since the retreat of the ten thousand history has recorded its instances in which the ardour or the necessities of war have been more than an antidote for the rigours of the season. There were Generals in the Hungarian War of whom their great civil leader has oppor tunely reminded us who could give the enemy a sound thrashing at the season when they least thought of it. However we are to lie by a little. Let us then look at the past, and learn for the future. There are some obvious oversights, if not worse, through which we have suffered much, and which ought not surely to occur again. We last year overlooked the Sea of Azoff ; the consequence, of course, was a well-fed garrison at Sebastopol all the winter. The supplies were almost at their gates. We left Odessa on the other side, and troops and supplies of many kinds were ready there for the Crimea in the spring. We have done creditably this summer in the Sea of Azoff, but have we done all we might f It is to be feared that considerable supplies may yet reach the Russian army, even from that quarter, when the sea is frozen. We have not destroyed Genitchi, which commands the entrance of the Putrid Sea and the passage to that remarkable road, the Spit of Arabat. Neither have we taken Arabat at the other end of the Spit, nor yet Kaffa, which almost commands the Spit from the bay of Kertch. These little omissions in a great exploit may prove sufficient to neutralise it. Is it quite too late to complete this part of our work before winter render it impracticable The sparing of Odessa, we regret to see, is even' defended. Another of our greatest failures is that we have made no allies. With the exception of Sardinia, an exception due rather to the nobility of its Monarch and people than to us, literally none. The very Tartars of the Crimea who at first were enthusiastic for us, we have so dealt with that actually a whole village of them, whom we had fed all last winter, requested to be carried to Russian territory 1 How invaluable they _ _ might have proved. Had we assured them a first that if we conquered they should never more pass under Russian sway, we might have known through them all the Russian movements north of Sebastopol. Semi-savages are the most adroit of spies, and in their own country their informa- tion would have been complete. Russia, however, knew all our movements—we none of hers. She used as allies those who might for a word have been ours. It is the same in the Principalities. Instead of proffering them entire independence of Russia, and the mild nominal supremacy of the SULTAN, with practical self-government ; and instead of backing this with Olkinn PA CHA's Army, we drugged them with an Austrian occupation, and Austro-Russian Hospodars—till, cheated, bullied, oppressed, and their very wives violated, they owe us no thanks, and give us none. They might have furnished a thoroughly efficient militia at least, had we not stooped to gratify, at their cost, the swaggering vanity and territorial gluttony of the base coward, Austria. On the neglect of the Poles we have too often dilated—the people whose aid we should have sought in every quarter, and by every means ; but Austria, the feeblest power of Europe, forbade the two mightiest of its Empires to hoist the white flag ! We coquetted with Austria while thousands and tens of thousands of men who might have fought in our ranks are now torn from Polish homes and knouted into battle to perpetuate their own slavery. Through losing Poland, and silence as to Finland, we lost Sweden also—all this year. Nor could we blame her ; and even the Circas sians, the sworn enemies of Russia, were turned to no purpose. w that e r One most wicked plot w as th e cause o f a l l this. Cob urg i nfluence we suspect to have been chief or kers and Austria a n d P russ i a pr i me mover; in it. Th e li ttle German despots and the big ones, too, equally wanted Russia as a first-rate despot power ; th e l atter played the old trick of cunning schoolboys, and put f orward the feeblest one of the g do th e di rty work. They knew h most smiled o n b y one, at least, of w n naughty would u l batch t be e h to the great belligerent Court s , and thoroug hl ythey su cceeded in securing the abomin a bl e r :sel Russia as to lose no territory, past territorial burglaries she was to receive an eter nal indemnity, and he r p ower was to be as great as ever to punish all who might help lia! She was in no case to .lose anything ; only - s h e must leave off meddling with Turkey. No term s of condemnation are too severe for this unstatesma n „ like, this profoundly wicked policy. It has brought upon France and England already a two fold weight of taxation, and a tenfold loss of life. And for what—meiely to conduct the War so that Austria—the detestation of England—should be leased, and Russia little hurt. Symptoms of something better do, however, appear ; but we feel little hope, for Germany is om nipotent at our Court. General OANROBERT is wel comed by the Steedes. Time will show whether be is instructed to gain the King of Sweden. Count Luao-rsiu announces that he is officially authorised to hoist the white flag, but the Poles are not to be called Poles, but the Sultan's Cos saes ! Why is this silly truckling to the odious Austria still continued ? How long, in the nam' of all self-respect, will our rulers trim to a power which supplies Russia with sulphur, and pulls the uniform offan English officer, on an English errand, and in Wallachian not in Austrian territory ? Again. Ou PAULA has secured the co-operation of the Circassian tribes, and we may hope that they will aid in expelling the Russians from the south side of the Kuban and the Caucasus. All this is hopeful—but it wants to be carried out in bolder style ; the opinion of Europe, as Louis NAPOLEON has truly said, must yet be pronounced —but it must be so pronounced, we would add, as to liberate Poland before this contest is over, or all will be vain. We only advert in conclusion to our mechanical failures ; there is no room for dispute here. We have seen our Ally surpass us in our own depart ment, naval shipbuilding I We have seen a splendid mistake at Sweaborg, through lazy, obstinate, or treacherous disregard of Sir CHAR. NAPIER'S reasonable advice. Millions of money were wasted on useless ships, and the right vessels for the right place were not even built. How is it that Lord PALMERSTON continues in his office such a convicted incapable as Sir CHARLES WOOD ? We might say much and justly, no doubt, on Horse Guard appointments and maladministra tion, but their opponents would find ground for dispute. The want of gun-boats, both in the Danube, the Sea of Azoff, and, above all, the Baltic, is the flagrant delinquency of our Naval Minister, and one for which he deserves summary ejection from office. Had any of Mr. PETO'S contractors failed as conspicuously, a second tender from him would have been returned un opened. For outrageous flattery and unmitigated blas phemy commend us to the Archbishop of Kher son. Other Priests have done noticeable strokes in this line, but we would match him against his tribe, however gifted they may be. Some rem nant of self-respect would appear to check the flow of their unctuous flattery, and some whole some awe their blasphemous impulses ; but Mon signor Innocent systematically gives licence to his singularly perverted imagination, and deals out flattery and blasphemy with a trowel. Doubtless he understands the market to which he brings his wares, and has reasonable grounds for hope that they will bring him a plentiful return. On what other supposition can we account for the morceaux to which we ate about to call the reader's attention ? The Emperor of RUSSIA, it is pretty generally known, does not possess the strongest head, and educated in a corrupt creed is a pitiable thrall to superstition. The necessities of despots of this stamp is generally the opportu nity of designing Priests, and it must be admitted th• forlorn cub of the Emperor NICHOLAS is now drinking the waters of adversity drugged to unusual bitterness. Posting rapidly here, flitting wildly there, he can find consolation nowhere, and in this condition he hies to a sacred fan•, where the wily Monsignor, in all the pomp and glory of the Archiepiscopal dignity, waits to greet him. Arrived at the threshold, he is thus addressed—" Thou hadst scarcely put on the crown of thy ancestors when it pleased PROW.. DENCE to surround it with thorns. Our bodily eyes are not accustomed to see such an ornament sparkle on the heads of kings, but the eyes of faith see in it with piety and respect a souvenir of the crown of CHRIST." The courtly blasphemy and fulsome flattery of these words it would be difficult to surpass. Their absurdity, however, is almost as conspicuous. The orphaned despot had " scarcely put on the crown of his ancestors when it pleased PROVIDENCE to surround it with thorns." " And not so bad a protection either," the Great FREDERICK would have exclaimed, had the words been addressed to him ; " thorns aro bad to handle save with an iron hand." The EIbIrEIROR'S , crown surrounded with thorns—what a notion Why, it suggests a better version of the Pilgrim and the Pease I Of course the mean ing belonging to the words is not that intended by the Archbishop—what he meant the reader will already have perceived. The next absurdity is the idea of the aforesaid thorns sparkling, radiance net being usually a cha racteristic of thorns until they find their way into the fire. Possibly a vague analogy of this sort floated in the Archbishop's mind. The remainder of the quotation is in too offensively bad taste for notice. Not satisfied, however, with playing the Episcopal Courtier after so scandalous a fashion, Monsignor must don the mantle of prophet. De signating the Western Powers as " two brands" —England, " debased and jeopardised England," being one " which, after being extinguished for two centuries, recommences to smoke (who lit it?) in the midst of a yawning gulf," he authorita tively declares that " the winds will abate, the rain fall to fertilise our fields, and the brands depart !"--not be extinguished, but be endowed with powers of locomotion, and compelled to " cut their stick." The Western Powers must look to this, for if " the wind" be from the west, the pro bability is " the rain " will fall earlier than usual "to fertilise our fields," which, considering the quantity of snow upon them, one would have fancied were not particularly in need of it. But enough of this disgusting farrago of syco phancy and blasphemy. The witless EMPEROR, who could listen patiently to it, and without ad ministering a rebuke to the speaker, must be sorely entangled in the toils, and in that case it will go hard if Monsignor, oily knave that he is, does not drive a hard bargain with him. The Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the disturbance of the peace in Hide-park, on Sunday, the Ist July, has just been published. A portion of it will be found in our present impression, and it will be given in eartenso in our next edition. It is an important and interesting document ; but, as it has reached us at so late an hour, we have been only able to glance superficially at its contents. Superintendent HUGHES is partially acquitted—although it is found that he was not justified in ordering the men to use their staves under the circumstances, and several of the men have been returned as guilty of using very unne cessary violence, and a grave abuse of the power placed in their hands. We trust that some im portant results may follow from this search ing and impartially conducted inquiry. Her Majesty held a Privy Counoil this afternoon at Windsor Castle. CABINET COUNCIL.— A Cabinet Council was held yes terday afternoon at the Foreign-office. There were present Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Lord P ly a o n o m d, u rtel,ie Right i Ch t ancellor of the Exchequer, Si r Ch ar l es Ron. R. Vernon Smith, Viscount Canning, the Earl of Ilarrowby, and the Right Hon. H. Labouchere. The Council sat three hours and a quarter. THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL—We are enabled to state that the Duke of Argyll will succeed Viscount Canning as Postmaster-General —his Grace retaining, for the pre sent, his office of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Countess Persigny entertained a t dinner, last evening, at Albert-gate House, his Excell ency the Turkish Minis- Musu r a s , his Excellenc y tl ehse Comtea d L the a Bavarian Bdye c Mary h a n. Baroness De C e tt o , t h e Duke D'Osuna, Lo r d a Baron s n t d e LrAia.lonanidlealtmh Rothschild and Miss R othschild, ee y ve o d rka a s t hi t r h e. e Clare n d on, dl Wood, o ro do yd: Lady tand e M. Comteo m d e o h n o i d u c e s a e u ' f t a . S u i r c o u C r h t in town, yester day, from Bowood. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, accompanied from T iThe e e H m p o ruan Duke e y u o C i sfaosl Leeds Castle, a d u s e s a. ci h t o t a e w s r Il i caekr arrived i rrive by e Viscoun t ess a roi Jocelyn roda u and oi family, strived in town, y t erdy, fn B COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR,iNov. 20. There was no addition to the Royal dinner party yes terday. Lady Macdonald has succeeded the Duchess of Athole as Lady in Waiting to her Majesty. Her Grace remains on a visit. Lord Waterpark and Major-General Berkeley Drum mond have succeeded Earl Somers and Mr. R. Ormsby Gore, as Lord and Groom in Waiting. Sir Alexander Spearman had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Viscount Palmerston arrived in town yesterday from his seat, Broadlands, Hants. Despatches from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands were received yesterday at the Colonial office. THE KING OF SARDINIA. It will be seen by our telegraphic despatch in this day's paper that the King of Sardinia left Genoa yester day morning, accompanied by a brilliant staff, and his Excellency the Duke de Gramont, French Minister at Turin. His Majesty is expected to land at Marseilles to morrow, the 22d. There he will receive the authorities, and breakfast at the Prefecture. The Emperor of the French will be represented at Marseilles by Count Ney, his Imperial Majesty's Aide de-camp, Viscount de Cornegliano, his Chamberlain, and Colonel de Valabreque, his Equerry. The Sing will leave Marseilles immediately after breakfast for Lyons, where an Qfficial reception will take place. The Emperor will depute Prince Napoleon, accom panied by several great officers of the Court, to receive the King at Lyons, where his Majesty will dine and sleep the night of the 22d. At Lyons the Count Cavour and M. d'Azeglio, who will proceed from Turin over land, will join their royal master. His Majesty will make his grand entry into Paris on the 23d, between the hours of two and three p.m. In Paris great enthusiasm is manifested on the occasion of the Royal visit, and the Emperor and Empress espe cially have repeatedly expressed their sincere satisfaction at the opportunity afforded them of doing honour to their illustrious and gallant ally. EXPEDITION TO KAPPA. A letter from Kamiesh, of the 6th, says : "An expedition against Kaffa has been decided on, which was to have left Kamiesh on the 3d, but why it did not take place remains a secret of the generals. The French fleet, which will anchor in this port, is to re main here three days before setting sail for France. The French troops are opposite the Russians along the whole fine of the Tchernaya. A few days since the French sol diers, who are always ingenious in finding means of pass ing away the time, put themselves, along the line of the advanced posts, in direct communication with the Russian soldiers placed opposite to them. The plan which they adopted was this ; they hoisted on the ends of their bayonets some small white handkerchiefs ; the Russian soldiers, not to be wanting in politeness, did the same, thus showing that they were disposed for a conference. The French soldiers then showed their bread and coffee, and the Russians their gourds of brandy, and then with common accord they advanced towards each other without arms, and took their coffee and brandy together. It appears that this kind of re creation went on for some days without the knowledge of the French and Russian officers. The Gringalet Bat tery at times sent some shot among these jovial gentle men, but that did not prevent the meetings from taking place. A few days siecs the General was informed of the fact, and the most rigorous orders were issued to put a stop to such proceedings. The captain, who ought at first to have prevented them, has been punished. The weather is beautiful ; not a drop of rain has fallen for the last six weeks." TTIE MOVEMENTS IN THE CRIMEA. A correspondent writing to a morning contemporary says :—" How gratified you must be, after eighteen months having advocated Omer Pasba being sent to Asia, to find the accomplished soldier skilfully operat ing on the enemy's rear towards his road across the Caucasus, Kutais (on a good road) being seventy miles nearer than Kars is to Gori—consequently in possession of Gori—Mouravieff's only communication with North Russia will be by Bakoo on the Caspian, and that very ticklish, with the independent tribes of the Alakan on his flank. On the 17th of January last you published my letter drawing attention to the Sea of Azoff, and the position of Sinspheropol,' which we skould long ago have obtained had Kaffa been made the base of operations, whence, our left flank being secure, the enemy's large body of cavalry would avail but little. There is abun dance of water all the way to Simpheropo), which posi tion, independent of the town, most effectually turns all the enemy'sentrenchments towards Sebastopol and Eupa• toria, and must force him to starve or fight at once." DESERTERS FROM THE ARMY. TO OFFICERS COMMANDING LINE AND MILITIA REGIMENTS AND DEPOTS, DEPOT AND PROVISIONAL 'BATTALIONS, CONSOLIDATED CAVALRY DEPOTS, INSPECTING FIELD OFFICERS, AND ALL CORPS, EITHER BRITISH OR FO REIGN, IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. Silt, —Complaints having been addressed to the Sec retary-at-War of the unnecessary detention in gaol of soldiers committed to the custody of the Governors thereof on charges of desertion, and it being found that the descriptive returns received from the com m itti ng magistrates, under the provisions of the 46th clause of the Mutiny Act, which are referred to officers command ing with a view to the prompt and satisfactory identifi cation of the individuals charged with the offence of de sertion, are frequently detained instead of being for warded to the War-office with the least possible delay, as in every instance the several commanding officers are particularly requested to do, I have now the honour, by direction of the Secretary-at-War, to acquaint you that such descriptive returns, when referred to you, should be sent back to the War-office,. with th e i n f ormation re quired, by return of post, if possible ; and if that be not practicable, I am then directed to d es i re t h at the Secre tary-at-War may as immediately be informed of the cause of delay.—l have, &c., War-office, November 19. E. HAWES. STEAM-SHIP PACIFIC. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Upon perusing the "Latest Intelligence" in your paper of this day, I was much surprised at the fol lowing paragraph, " The English st eamer P ac i fic was totally wrecked." As principal owner of this vessel I immediately endeavoured to gain every possible informa tion relative thereto, and when you consider that there are on board that steamer between 500 an d 600 souls, you may imagine the anxiety of their relatives and friends upon reading such a report. The result of our inquiries at Lloyd's is to the effect, that they have a letter from their agent at Constantinopl e , d a t e d B th inst., and no mention of such a loss as th e Pacific re ferred to. I have this morning a letter from the captain, dated the 6th inst., wherein he speaks of sailing next day for Balaklava. There must evidently be some mistake in your infor mation, and the same should be corrected as speedily as possible, in order to relieve the anxieties of the friends of those on board. W e have had severa l telegraphic messages from parties interested, and fear tomorrow we shall be overwhelmed with inquiries.—We are, sir, your obedient servant., GEO. A. LLOYD. Nov. 19, 1855 2, Royal Exchgtnge Buildings, Cornhill, STATE OP TRADE. MANCHESTER, Nov. 20.—There has been but a very moderate demand, and, though prices are nominally the same as last week, it is found that practically sellers would have to yield about lid. per piece to command business. Most of the manufacturers, however, are in a position, from pre-engagements, and through freedom from stock, to hold back. In yarns there is also a quieter market, and an inclination on the part of spin ners to give way, while this symptom of weakness has not induced buyers to operate. Practically, therefore, both yarn and cloth are rather easier to buy. LEEDS, Nov. 20.—There is little alteration to notice in the tons of the cloth-markets to-day. In the Coloured Cloth-hall an average business was done, and the tone of the business was of a hopeful character. The White Cloth-ball was somewhat dull and languid. On the whole the woollen trade shows an improvement, and more goods are changing hands, the prices tending downwards. The manufacturers are said to be toler ably well employed, and in some instances orders have been issued for the home spring trade, and also for ship ment, the latter including Spanish stripes on account of the Chinese market. There are also a few Government contracts for the army still uncompleted. The business in the warehouses continues quiet. The Huddersfield market to-day has been but indifferently attended, and very little business has been done. POEM FOR A POLITICAL PRIMER. Cobden is a Muscovite, Ditto set down Mr. Bright, Ditto Gladstone, ditto Graham, Lord John Russell much the same. —Pu nch. INTERESTING FACT.—It is understood that poor Mr. Hamilton, whose eloquence was so promptly cut short by his Grace the Duke of Somerset, the moment the former bad uttered one sentence, is now known as "Single-Speech Hamilton."— Punch. TOAST AND SENTIMENT FOR MESS TABLES.—The health of an Illustrious Field-Marshal, and may his Royal Highness be always as ready to remove the griev ances of the army as he is to re-dress the officers and men.—Punch. GENERAL WILLIAMS AND THE ITURSS.—Everybody, no doubt, bas been struck with the perspicuous and comprehensive nature of General Williams's despatch to the Earl of Clarendon, describing the action at Kars. In a private note addressed to a friend in London the gallant officer says:—"Will any wan ever again say the Turks cannot Sight 1" THE LATE CONFLAGRATION IN PARIS. The Moniteur of yesterday contains the follow ing notice relative to the late conflagration : " The fire which broke out on Sunday evening, at the military bakehouse, on the Quai de Billy, has not been attended with the serious consequences which might hare been feared. Only one store house of corn, isolated from the other part of the building, and from the mill, has been burnt. The immense supply of corn and flour remain, there fore, almost untouched, and they will be soon again made complete by means of corn purchased abroad, and which is now being received or on its voy age." The following are some additional details : " As soon as the fire was observed, General Reg nault de Saint Jean d'Angely ordered a party of the cuirassiers of the guard to mount, whilst the other part of them and the regiment of voltigeurs of the guard went to the spot on foot at double quick time. MM. Fleury and de Toulongeon, aide de-camp and orderly officer to the Emperor, were early on the spot, encouraging the men employed, and did not quit the spot until all fear of further danger was removed. The Minister of the Interior was one of the first to arrive, and on leaving he gave 500 fr. to M. Colombe, the commissary of police, to be distributed among four men who had been injured by some of the falling timber. An act of courage and coolness, which ought not be passed over unnoticed, took place during the fire. A well-dressed young man, whose name is not known, heard, at a time when the fire was burning most violently, the alarm whistle of the steam engine, which indicated that the boilers had Le come overheated, and were about to explode. Every passage was obstructed by the flames, but the young man, guided by the sound of the whistle, rushed forward and opened the valves, and thus prevented additional mischief. Two English non commissioned officers, in undress, who are in Paris for the service of the English Government at the Universal Exhibition, made themselves remarkable by the coolness with which they went into the greatest danger. The Minister of War, who had noticed their daring during the fire, requested them to call on him the following day that he might personally thank them. All that the storehouse contained—corn, flour, and material, as well as the moveable granaries which were in, the building—. fell a prey to the flames. The mill has been some what damaged. The storehouses, specially appro priated to keeping the flour, and in which the greatest part of the supply was placed, were pre served. There still remains at La Villette a supply of flour for three months. The two bakehouses are again at work on the Quai de Billy, and the ovens are uninjured. The fire appears to have originated in a flue running from the granary to the steam engine ; the soot which remained in this flue is said to have caught fire from coming in contact with some sparks in the chimney. The form of those granaries, and their being built of deal, ex plains the rapid progress of the flames. All the building materials of the burned premises are lost, as the stones are calcined. On the ground-floor there still remains a layer of corn, rice, and flour, of a certain thickness, but it is all so mixed with ashes and rubbish that it will be useless unless it can be converted into starch. Behind and to the north of the burnt building is another much larger, but the wind, blowing towards the river, carried the flames away from this latter pile of building, and it was scarcely touched." Some idea may be formed of the extent of the establishment destroyed on Sunday evening, from the fact that by the regulations stores were always kept on the premises to supply 40,000 men for 3 months, and that upwards of 40,000 rations were prepared there each day. THE STRATEGICAL ROAD TO TIFLIS. The Assemblee Nationale of yesterday affords some information on the td-rain, which is about to form the field of operations of the conflicting armies, and which we hasten to transcribe : "There exists from Soukum Kaleh to Tiflis a strategical road, which forms the western line of the chain of com munications opened by the Russians to the south of the Caucasus, and which, after having crossed two rivers of small importance, the Kodor and the Gadisca, encounters the Ingour at Sougdidi. A distAnce of 70 English miles separates Sougdidi from Kutais. Between these two towns, but nearer to the second than to the first, is the fortress of Kheni, erected on the spot where the roads meet from Redout Kaleh to Tiflis. Before this fort runs the Tcheni-tschai, or the Hippus of the ancients. The next intelligence will acquaint us if the Russians have attempted to arrest the progress of the Turks, or have retired on Kutais. The river Rhion flows to the east of that town, whilst the road followed by Omer Pacha approaches from the north-west. If nothing has been attempted to stop the Turks, Omer Pacts, might be before Kutais on the 15th of November, but it is very improbable that the Russians will abandon without defence the capital of a province and a strategical position of high importance. Were he even to seize upon it by a coup-de-main, it is doubtful if he will be able to push his advantage further, in conse quence of the lateness of the season. Between Kutais and Tiflis there exists, near Suran, a mountain passage 4,000 feet above the level of the sea, whilst the passage of the Rhion will likewise have to be forced." S7'. PETERSBURG. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post, in his letter of yesterday evening, says : " I have seen communications from Russia. It is thoroughly believed by the war party at St. Petersburg that Prince Gortscbakoff will hold his position in the Crimea throughout the winter, when, it is stated, an army of 500,000 men, formed of the militia, is to relieve him, and drive the allies from the Russian soil ! A quantity of rifles had arrived from America, which have been distributed to the troops, with crosses said to be blessed by particular saints from Heaven. The public financ-.) is in a worse condition than is generally known. There are no internal resources whatever—all must now come from abroad. A very large issue of paper money is expected to take place. There seems to exist the greatest con- fidence at St. Petersburg that Germany will not move out of that " friendly neutrality " with which the Court and the Czar are perfectly satis fied. The Russian Government is very anxious to construct railways, especially such as would verge towards the frontiers, with a view, it is said, of being able to convey troops in the direction of Russian ambition." THE LATE EXPLOSION IN THE CRIMEA. The following is an official account of the officers and men killed and wounded by the explosion of the Eng lish siege train, caused by the previous explosion of that of the French, on the afternoon of the 15th instant : " Killed.—Deputy Assistant-Commissary Yellon, R.A., and 21 non-commissioned officers and men. " Wounded.—Lieutenant Dawson, R A,, lost his leg below his knee ; Lieutenant Robert, dangerously in the arm ; Lieutenant Eccles and Assistant-Surgeon Reade, 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade, slightly ; 116 brigade com missioned officers and men, of whom 47 slightly. " Missing.-4 rank and file." Genral Canrobert is expected to return to Paris at the end of the present month. . --- The subscriptions for the shares of the Austrian Cr&lit Mobilier will be opened on the 10th December. The Piedmontese reinforcements have arrived at Bala klava. Their bead quarters are at Katnara. Th. United States Mail steamer Hermann arrived at Cowes, on her way to Bremen, yesterday morning. She left New York on the 3d inst. THE BIBLE BURNING AT ki;vGsTow . N.—D lIBLIN, TUN • day Evening.—lnformations were sworn this day (Tuesday), at the suit of the Crown, against the redemp torist father, Petchinini, for having taken part in, and being present at, the recent disgraceful Bible burning at Kingstown. A police-constable, named Halpin, has proved the identity of the individual. Summonses in the case were despatched for service this afternoon, and the case will come on for hearing before the magistrates of the Kingstown police-court, as soon as service shall have been effected. ALARMING ACCIDENT.—This morning a very alarming accident occurred in the neighbourhood of Holborn-hill. It appears that the back wall of the premises of Messrs. Tidmarsb, wholesale ironmongers, of Eyre-street, have for some time been considered unsafe, in consequence of the removal of several old houses in Sutianar street, for the erection of a model lodging-house. About ten o'clock this morning the wall fell to the ground, and the consequence was the destruction of an immense quantity of the stock of Messrs. Tidwarsh. All the men were engaged in the warerooms attke time, and the escape o f a ll o f th em w i t h out acc id en t is miraculous. NAPLES.—The commercial advices from Naples have recently contained many exposures of an iniquitous method adopt e d by th e Fin fluencing the Minister for the currency, which seems likely to bring the monetary affairs of that country into disgraceful harmony with its political con ditio n . It appears that, by interposing delays and o b s t ruc ti on s to the coinage of silver, as well as by other means, the Government have contrived to reduce that metal to a discount of 10 or 11 per cent. They are consequently enabled to obtain such supplies as they require at this depreciation, and, as they can coin at pleasure what they want for their own use, they conceive themselves to be acting with great acuteness, especially as the loss appears to fall upon such visitors as may bring foreign silver into the country, or the mer chants who have to remit it in payment. At the same time, also, they are accused of receiving large bribes from such parties as may see fit to tempt them by those means to allow the Mint to o p erate i n their favour. The process is one, however, that brings its own cure, and the Neapolitan Chanc e ll or o f the Exchequer will find that he cannot permanently cheat the commercial world, whatever he may do with his own people. The course of exchange soon sets the ma t ter r i ght ; all persons hav ing transactions with th e ki ng d om of Naples calculate accordingly in their purchases and remittances the al lowance they must make to protect themselves from the chicanery of its rulers, * LATEST NEWS. EMBARKATION OF THE KING OF SARDINIA. TURIN, Nov. 20. The King embarked this morning from Genoa for Marseilles, with a brilliant military suite. The Duke de Gramont accompanies his Majesty. Count Cavour and M. d'Azeglio have left for Lyons, where they will rejoin the King. The last number of the Czas, published at Cracow, states that the Russian Government is supplying the place of the regular regiments re moved from Poland by the new " Militia of the Empire." Six thousand of these troops have already entered Poland, and will have their winter quarters at Warsaw. BERLIN, Nov. 20. The mission of General C4nrobert to Sweden has caused great alarm hero and at St. Peters burg. It has been current to-day that his embassy has been successful, and that Sweden has con sented to join the Western Alliance. It is said that though the Western Powers re• pudiated territorial aggrandisement for them selves their Allies have made no such engage- ment. Sweden will therefore conclude a military con vention with the Allies, and take part in an invasion of the Russian territories on the Baltic in the ensuing spring. Russia having broken through the treaties by which the division of Europe is regulated has forfeited her right to those Swedish provinces she acquired in virtue of them. The Russian loan, so much talked of, has been concluded. The Swedish Government has also contracted a loan for three-quarters of a million sterling with the house of Heine, of this city. The matter of the stolen despatches is treated very mysteriously. The Cologne Gazette states that the police authorities of that town had prolonged from three months to six the sentence pronounced against the British Consul, Mr. Curtis, condemned for recruitment. The French Government is said to be negotiat ing, in common with the Austrian, for joint re presentations to other Governments, in reference to political refugees. MADRID, Nov. 19. Tristany has taken refuge in France. Quiet has been completely restored to Saragossa, and it has not been disturbed in the other provinces. The Queen yesterday opened the University. A grand ball will take place at the Palace this evening. THE RUSSIAN ARMY IN ANATOLIA. A letter from Warsaw, in the Augsburg Gazette, states that when General Mouravieif crossed the Arpatchai to march against Kars he had only a body of infantry of 27 battalions, and the whole of his corps did not exceed 35,000 men, including cavalry and artillery. The writer, proceeding from statement to specu lation, adds :—_ " Lately, and up to the time of his assault on Kars, he had received considerable reinforcements, for in the reports regiments are mentioned which before that time were in the Caucasus. The pre sent number of these forces, after making au allow ance for the losses at Kars, may be estimated at 30,000 men, but to this force must bo added the brigade of Grenadiers of the Caucasus of 5,000 men, the battalion of Chasseurs of the Caucasus of 1,000, the battalion of nobles and the artillery, which must be reckoned at least at 3,000. In ca valry, there are iu Turkey in Asia three regiments of Dragoons, three of Mussulmans, three of Cos sacks, two of Kurds, and the militia mountaineers. The corps of Erivan, under General Susboff, is also in communication with the army of General Mou ravieff, who, notwithstanding his losses, has at his disposal 50,000 men, if not before Kars, at least in Anatolia. This explains why he did not raise the siege immediately after his assault was repulsed. The army of the Caucasus has also been reinforced." THE RUSSIAN ARMY IN FINLAND. The Augsburg Gazette, discussing the rumours of an alliance between Sweden and the Western Powers, volunteers a numerical statement of the forces collected by Russia in Finland and at St. Petersburg : " Every one (says the Gazette) admits that the Swedish army is excellent, and the annals of mili tary history have preserved the memory of its an cient exploits. Nevertheless, the Swedish force is not sufficiently strong for advantageously as suming the offensive, even against that part of the Russian army which defends the empire in the north ; the aid to be expected from an Anglo- French fleet and a landing corps would not suffice to restore the balance. Of good troops, Russia has in the northern provinces —the first division of Grenadiers, with the battalion of Chasseurs-Cara bineers, in all 14,000 men ; six reserve regiments of Grenadiers, each 3,000 strong, in all 18,000 men; 22 Finish battalions of the line, at 600 each, in all 13,200 men (the number of these battalions in creases every day) ; three Finnish battalions of Chasseurs under General Ramza,y, at 1,000 each, in all 3,000 men. 'There are, besides, 3,000 men of the naval crews, and the number of batteries corresponding with these divisions. Thus Finland is defended by an army of the best troops more than 50,000 strong, distributed throughout this chain of fortresses that line the coast. But General Arbusoff has under his orders at St. Petersburg an army of 120,000 men, together with the excellent reserves of the Guard. The troops of the infantry corps of the Guard and of the let Infantry corps, with the reserves, occupy Revel and Courland. In case of attack, Russia is able to concentrate on the point threatened by Sweden imposing forces, in estimating the amount of which we have taken into account neither the 100,000 of the militia. nor the irregular troops. In this state of things an offensive war on the part of Sweden against Russia, armed with so considerable a defensive power, pre sents no chance of success, and ought not to be placed in the category of probable eventualities." FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EYMMING. Th e Emperor yesterday r ece i ve d a letter, in which the Duke of Nassau announces to his Ma jesty the death of his second son, Prince Frederick, aged only one year. The Moniteur publishes an official return of the receipts of Customs Duties during the month of October, which amount to 13,187,273 f., being 461,764 f. less than the corresponding month of last year, and 84,887 f. over that of 1853. The Moniteur publishes a decision of the Minis ter of Finance, fixing the terms and conditions on which timber and other materials used in ship building may be admitted duty free, according to the provisions of the decree of the 17th ult. autho rising such importation. Marshal de Castellane has arrived at Lyons from Paris. The Marshal shortened his stay in the ca pital, in order to be present at the preparations for the reception of the King of Piedmont, who is ex pected at Lyons on Thursday. The consecration of Mgr. Plantier, as Bishop of Nimes, took place in the usual form on Sunday, in the church of Saint Jean, at Lyons. The Cardinal Archbishop of Lyons, and the Bishops of Troves and Saint Flour officiated. The funeral of M. Paillet, the well-known pleader, took place yesterday at the church of St. Roch in presence of a vast crowd. All the mem bers of the Paris bar were present, as well as almost every person connected with the law in the capital. The rumours which circulated some weeks ago of a disposition on the part of the Russian Govern ment to negotiate pith a view tC) peaces are again revived in certain quarters, but, most probably, with as little foundation as they then had. It is, indeed, said that the experiment made at Kinbourn of the efficiency of the new floating batteries in- Tented by the Emperor Louis Napoleon, in attack ing, with comparative safety, the most formidable granite fortresses, has struck with dismay the heart of the Czar and his advisors, and convinced him that the protection on which he has hitherto relied at length begins to fail him. Hence, it is conjec tured that he feels there is no other alternative than to submit in time, or to see crumble before him the gigantic defences, on the solidity of which the last hope of safety, if not of triumph, depends. The execution done by these new instruments of destruction, and the comparative impunity with which they have done their work, has, no doubt, presented an unexpected feature in the war, and will compel the enemy to find out new means of defence that may postpone the catastrophe which is impending over him. From this, however, to suing for peace the distance is great. BOURSE, Oct. 20.—The following are the last quotations : Cash. fr. s. End of Nona; 4i per Cents 91 —f. --o. 3 per Cents 65 35 65 50 New Loan 66 30 Bank Shares 3160 Roman Credit Mobilier 1192 50 Austrian Belgian Fives 93 Spanish Threes — Piedmontese B3 25 Home Debt ...... ... 33 a RAILWAYS-70R CAM. fr. c. C . °thaw; 1110 Western 760 Northern ...... BB5 Strasburg ad 892 80 Lyons. .,.... 1135 New Ditto a d 755 Mediterranean 1235 Grand Central 585 Lions Geneva 660 Teste Cette 685 Austrian Com. 712 53 TURKEY. The Journal de Constantinople of the Bth denies on authority that the Sultan has conferred the rank of Serdar Ekrem and a pecuniary recompense on Marshal Pelissier, as stated in several European newspapers, and tho dignity of Capitan Paella OIL Admiral Bruat. The Austrian, Gazette says :—" Accounts from Constantinople state that the Divan has pronounced in favour of the Moldavian convents whose pro perty has been placed under sequestration by the Hospodar, in order to employ the revenue in de fraying public expenses. The Sultan has ordered the sequestration, which had been placed without his authority, to be removed." RUSSIA. The regiment of sharpshooters of the Imperial family, composed of men from the domains of the Crown, 3,000 strong, left Moscow in September for the Crimea. Before their departure the Empress sent every man a cross which had received the benediction of the church at the Convent of Trois koi-Sergreff. A letter from Riga, of Nov. 14, states that all the minor waters began on the previous day to form icicles. The following, under date of Berlin, 19th, is given by the Constitutionnel :—" The Invalide Russo announces that the Emperor, in returning to St. Petersburg, passed through Moscow. His Ma jesty left the Crimea on the 12th, after having in spected the army in the positions of the Belbek, Joukarika, Ralessa, on the Katcha, and in the village of Tachbastu." The Invalide publishes the following details of the Emperor's journey : " His Majesty the Emperor left Nicholaieff for the Crimea on the 7th of November, at 10.30 a.m.; he passed through Perekop the following day, at 11 in the morning, and continued his journey by way of Simpheropol, where he arrived at half-past 8 in the evening. " His Imperial Majesty was received in that town by Prince Gortschakoff, Commander-in-Chief of the land and sea forces in the Crimea, and on the 9th of November he left, at 10 a.m., for Bakshi-Serai. "During his journey the Emperor inspected dif ferent divisions of the army in the Crimea, and on the 10th November his Majesty visited the troops in the advanced positions from the north side of Sebastopol, as far as Mackenzie's farm. "In these different inspections the Emperor was completely satisfied, not only with the perfect state of these brave troops, but particularly and still more so with their healthy and vigorous appear ance." AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Nov. 18.—The Russians continue loudly to assert that the Czar " will never consent to any limitation of his maritime power," but in Austrian official circles no great importance is at tached to their swaggering. The prevailing im pression is, that a want of men rather than of money will ultimately necessitate Russia to yield, and an able writer not only expresses the same opinion in the .zlityantrg Gazette, but adduces facts in support of it. As the article is very much to the purpose, and has created some sensation here, a summary of it will now be given. After • indulging in a slight sneer at the expense of those politicians who always have the word " peace" on their lips, the German (probably Prussian) writer says, that peace is not likely to be concluded until after a prolonged struggle. The Western Powers will not listen to any propositions which do not come directly from Russia, and the latter re plies to this their expressed resolution by a new conscription : "The present levy is the eighth within the last 20 months. On the 10th of February, 1854, nine men in the thousand were conscribed in the western provinces, and on the 9th of May nine men in the thousand in the eastern provinces ; on the 7th Sept. 10 men in the thousand were raised in the western, and on the 13th of December the same number in the eastern, provinces. In the manifesto of February the 10th, 1855, it was or dered that a militia, to be composed of 23 men out of every thousand, should be formed in 18 Govern ments. The ukases of May the 31st, August the 12th, and. October the 7th, ordained that a militia should be raised at the rate of 23 men per thousand in the other Governments, although a levy of 12 men per thousand for the standing army had been decreed on the 6th of May. On the 15th October a ukase ordered that 10 men per 1,000 should be levied in all the Governments excepting seven, as a consequence of the losses which our armies have suffered in the field during the present year, and because we consider it absolutely necessary to have them complete, in order that they may be able to resist the future enterprises of the enemy.' " Thus, within the last 20 months, 52 men per 1,000 have been levied iu the eastern half, and 64 men per 1,000 in the Western half of the Russian empire. If we suppose that in a population of 60,000,000 there are 15,000,000 of men between 17 and 45, the proportion will be 250 men of the age just mentioned in each 1,000 souls. The cus tomary calculation here is that only 1-3 d of the per sons who, from their age, are liable to conscription are capable of bearing arms, and if this be correct, the Russians have but 20 men per thousand, who are between 17 and 45, left in the western, and 30 in the eastern, provinces. It is unknown how many men were already under arms before the conscrip tion of the 10th of February, 1854, took place, but the number of soldiers could hardly have been smaller than half-a-million. It must not be for gotten that when Russia levies men she cannot, like other Earopean Powers, immediately put them into the ranks. Russia is obliged to march her re cruits from one extremity of the Empire to the other, so that before fresh forces actually take the field one-half of the men are generally missing. We find in the Order of the Day published at Nicolaieff on the 9th of October the following passage : "In consideration of the circumstances his Ma jesty has been pleased to order that the militia of the first levy (the best men) shall join the standing army and relieve the 3d and 4th battalions." Where are the regular reserves whose duty it would be to take the places of these 3d and 4th battalions. It is evident either that they have never existed, or that they have ceased to exist. The Russian militia is very different from the Prussian Landwehr. Every Prussian capable of bearing arms is obliged to do military service for a time, and if called on to take the field would soon be a first rate soldier ; but such is not the case with the Russian serf. The Russian militiamen, who had been six months in rank and file, were so awkward when they first reached the province of Cherson, that Gen. Luders was obliged to have them taught how to load their muskets ;without danger to them selves and their neighbours, and besides issued strict orders that the regular soldiers should not be allowed to ridicule them. IMPORTANT TO RATEPAYERS.—By a provi s io n i n th e new Local Management Act all books kept by the new boards and vestries are t o b e open to the inspection of all ratepayers without charge, and extracts may be taken. Any refusal on the part of the officer is to render him liable to a fine of 101. on a summary conviction. VESTRY M EETINGS IN CHURCHES.—There is an ex. press provision in the new Local Management Act, prohibiting any future vestry meeting in any church or chapel. WELLS ELECTION.—The nomination of a member to serve for this city took place yesterday morning at the Nisi Prius Court of the Assize-hall. Captain Joliffe and Mr. Serjeant Kinglake having been proposed and seconded, a s h ow of bands was taken, which was in favour of Mr. Serjeant Kinglake. A poll was demanded for Captain Joliffe. A vote of thanks to the Mayor brought th e proceed i ngs, which were very noisy through• g int to clot,