The Sun. — London, England, 1854-05-03 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL DEURY LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, MAT 3, Will be performed Bellines Opera of LA SONNAMBULA. Cha racters by Sidile. Bury, Signor Arnoldi, and Signor Paves'. Con ductor, Herr A imbue& Followed by a BALLET DIVERTISSEMENT. Prices—Stalls, Ts; Dress Circle, 55.; Boxes, 3s ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. ; and Private Boxes, One, Two, Three and Four Guineas. The Box-office open daily from Ten till Six, where places may be secured. Private Boxes and Stalls to be had of Messrs. Leader and Cock, 63, New Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. tackstone. THIS EVENING, MAY 3, Will be performed TOWN AND COUNTRY. Characters by Messrs. Compton, Chippendale, George Yandenhoff, and Buekstone ; .11iss Featherstone and Miss Reynolds. Followed by a 'VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT. After which, the entirely new and original extravaganza, entitled MR. BUCKSTONE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE GLOBE (IN LEI CESTER-SQUARE), written by J. R. Planche, Esq. Principal characters by Mr. Bnckstone, Mr. W. Farrell, Mr. Clark, Mr. J. Marshall, Mr. H. Marshall; Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Caulfield, Miss E. Grey. Miss Lydia Thompson, Miss Laura Morris, and Was Featherstone. To be followed by POPPING THE QUESTION. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CHARLES Kates. THIS EVENING, MAT 3. Will be performed TUE MARRIED UNMARRIED. Characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, Ryder, and Cathcart; and Misses Heath and Murray. Followed by riusr AND MARGUERITE. Character 9 by liessrs. C. Kean and Day.d Fisher ; Mrs. Wlustanley and Miss C. Leclercq. To conclude with A STORM IN A TEA-CUP. Principal cha racters by Mr. and Mrs. W. Lacy. TEMITRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, MAT 3, Will be performed TWO LOVES AND A LIFE. Supported by Messrs. C. Selby, Leigh Murray, Benjamin Webster, Ke e l ey , and 0. Smith ; Miss Wooigar any! Madame Celeste. Followed by THE MOUSTACHE MOVEMENT. Principal cha racters by Messrs. 0. Smith, Keeley, and Parselle; Mrs. Keeley, and Miss Mary Keeley. After which, THE OVERLAND JOURNEY TO CONSTANTI NOPLE, A 3 UNDERTAKEN BY LORD BATEHAN, WITH INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF THE FAIR SOPHIA. LYCEUM TIIEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestrls. THIS EVENING, MAT 3, Will be performed A CHARMING WIDOVF. Principal charac ters by Air. C. Mathews; Miss Talbot and Miss Oliver. After which, USED UP. To be followed by GIVE A DOG AN ILL NAME. Principal characters by Meesrs. C. Mathews and F. Matthews. Concluding with A HOUSE OUT OF WINDOWS. ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager. Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, Malt 3. Will be presented the new grand Nautical and Equestrian spec tacle, embodying novel and extraordinary effects (written by Mr. Nelson Lee), entitled A TALE OF THE SPANISH WAR; or, The Horse of the Wreck. Th.: horses expressly trained by Mr. W. Cooke. F ° ll °wed by an entire change of the Scenesof the CIRCLE. intro ducing Miss Kate Cooke, Miss Emily Cooke, Mr. Alfred Cooke, and the most talented Equestrian and Gymnastic .Artistes in Europe. Mdlle. Blanche, the celebrated Continental Artiste, on the TIGHT ROPE. MR. BRIGGS IN HIS PLEASURES OF HORSE-KEEPING. • Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager. Mr. W West. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Allcrort.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs, THIS EVENING, MAY 3, THE THREE TURKISH RAZOR GRINDERS. To be followed by PAUL PRY. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Ti'e DAY —Morning 19 min.after 5 I Evening 40 min.aft. 5 Tc•Mozaow—Morning 0 min.after 6 1 Evening 25 min.aft. 6 THE WEATHER.—Sms Orme, MAY 3. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 63 —highest since noon yesterday. 50—lowest this morning and during the night. 62 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29.55. WIND, S.W.—Fresh breeze, and fine, cloudy weather, with occasional sunshine. ~~~~•. tut t LONDON. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1854. DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS A startling victory over the Russians—start ling even among the many brilliant triumphs already won by the Turkish army over their antagonists—will be found recorded elsewhere in our impression of this evening. News of this victory, it will be _observed, passed through Vienna as recently as this (Wednesday) morning. It rests upon a report in circulation at Bucha rest. A rumour that the Russian forces under General TAMERS had been signally defeated between Rassova and Silistria—OMEß PACIIA hav ing advanced with 70,000 Turks in a sudden march towards the Dobrudscha. Nothing, it would appear, could have been more masterly than the skill displayed by the Ottoman Commander in-Chief as a tactician. His right movement would seem to have been a masterpiece of generalship. By detaching a division of his army, under cover of the darkness, in the direction of the Black Sea—and, then, during the • crisis of the battle, on the following day, when the conflict was at its height, directing this corps unexpect edly upon the rear of the Russian forces, 031A.R PA.CRA. is stated to have thrown the enemy, and no wonder, into " unexampled confusion and consternation." Have not the Turkish soldiers by their valour, not less than the Turkish statesmen by their moderation proved themselves, up to this moment, in every way worthy of the support of the Allied Governments ? The dastardly conduct of the Government of Greece With this difference, however, that the ruler of the latter has done openly, and so far bravely, what the rulers of the former have only ventured upon doing meanly, because surreptitiously. It will have been remarked, we doubt not, that a Proclamation has been addressed to his subjects by Prince DANIEL, the Vladika of the Monteneg rins, calling upon them to rise in a "holy war' against the Ottoman Administration. This flagi tious document, it will ba perceived, was dated some, time back from Cettina, and is throughout of a character most irritating and inflammatory. It reminds the Montenegrins that they are the descendants of the old Czernagores. *tells there, that they are the children of iho formerly worsted Mire° Turkish Viziers, who defeated the troops of France, and who took by assault from the S ULTAN some of his strongest fortresses. Recalling all these thin g s minds of the people, it gives them the formal summo ns t o share honour and glory with their leader by fighting in defence of their coun try, of the Orthodox Church, Cros s and of the sacred adding them "combat, b symbol of th e in the holy name of GOD " with which words theusi Manifesto is b roug h t to its c With Which wor the Manifesto is brought to its con I • c on. The docu ment is, in every respect, consonant with the latest Proclamatio n pu t forth 1) Y the Russian AUTOCRAT, the Proclamation recently I • ssu e d to the world through the official Gazette at St. Petersburg—representing the war against Tur key and her allies as a contest unde r t a k en for the defence of the Orthodox Faith and the Christian Religion. Throughout the whole of the subordinate, or rather subsidiary, movements along the European frontiers of the Ottoman do minion, it is perfectly manifest that the move ments made, whether by signal from Athens or from Cettina, whether in Thessaly, or Epirus, or Montenegro, are all arranged with the entire cog nisance of the CZAR, if they have not been actu ally organised under the direct and immediate super vision of his Government. The inspiration in every instance COUIC3. from the Cabinet of NISSEL DE. There is a perceptible cmsistency through all the mazes of these apparently confused risings, or insurrecticms. It would be nothing less than wilful ' fatuity to regard these movements made simultaneously near the opposite- extremities of Albania—here in Thessaly, there in Monte negro —as other . - than portions of the preconterted scheme of the, Czar NICHOLAS. • •ng An them as such it would be NT d - viewi orse than folly to treat either the rising provoked by the mandate of Prince DANIEL, or the insurrection encouraged, notoriously encouraged, if not actually originated, by King OTHO and Queen AMELIA, as other than of the gravest importance in the present extraor dinary complication of affairs in those parts of Christendom. _ _ We have said that there is a certain resemblance between the movements made almost at the same time against Turkey by order of the Montenegrin, and with the connivance, or let us repeat plainly, at the 'express instigation of the Greek, Govern ment. It is, however, as we have already ob served, a resemblance with a difference. The VLADIKA of Montenegro acts against the Sublime Porte with the daring of an open foe, a foe not afraid to draw the sword and not ashamed to unfurl the standard. The KING and QUEEN of Greece oppose the SULTAN and his Divan somewhat dif f erently. They oppose him after the fashion not of valiant antagonists, but rather of cowardly conspirators. They work under a screen of pretended neutrality as they had previously done under the blind of an affected indifference. Latterly, their hostility to the Ottoman rule has become more flagrantly mani fested. This was only, however, when the con cealment of their sympathies with the AUTOCRAT had come at length to Le altogether impracticable. The truth in this matter is at last notorious. It can no longer be doubted. It has been asserted in the House of Commons by Lord JOHN RUS SELL. It has been proclaimed through an official circular addressed to the British Consuls in the Levant, 'by her Britannic MAJESTY'S Ambassador at Constantinople. We scarcely require the blue-book promised to be soon laid before Parliament. It can only furnish us with additional details in the way of corroboration. In corroboration, that is to say, of the circum stances already before the public—circumstances demonstrative of the fact that the KING and QUEEN of Greece have given the fullest encourage ment to the Insurrection. That insurrection is so far formidable that its incentive is fanaticism ; that it is directly in aid of all the known or suspected plans of the CZAR ; that it is openly and notoriously made in common cause with Russia for the carrying on of a war in defence of the Greek Church, or, as it is called, the Orthodox Religion. It is the same, as we have seen, with the rising of the Montenegrins. Upwards of 4,000 of the latter have been enrolled, as we learn by intelligence coming to us by way of Vienna, news, dated from that capital as recently as yesterday (May 2), stating that these 4,000 subjects of the VLADIKA are determined to op pose the Turks in Albania and Herzegovina. As to the identity of the course adopted respec tively by the EMPEROR of All the Russias, by the KING of Greece, and by the VLADIKA of Monte negro—that cannot now for a single instant be questioned. It is demonstrated clearly and boldly by facts altogether removed beyond the reach of contradiction. By the whole conduct of the Court of Athens, in regard to the risings in Thessaly and Epirus ! By the Manifesto addressed by Prince DANIEL to his political and spiritual subjects, the Montenegrins ! By the Proclamation recently issued by the CZAR from St. Petersburg ! Every thing proves that the AUTOCRAT has undertaken this war as a religious war against Turkey, sup ported by France and England. Everything proves no less clearly, that in declaring this religious war with the Ottoman empire and her allies from the west of Europe, the Emperor NICHOLAS is sup ported by King OTHO from the direction of Greec by way of Thessaly and Epirus, and by Prince DANIEL from the direction of Montenegro, by way of Albania and Herzegovina. This, we maintain, is altogether undeniable. It is a com plication of affairs that should not be overlooked by the Allied Governments of France and Great Britain. Now is the time to test the sincerity of the Austrian alliance. It should be required from the Imperial Councils at Vienna that mea sures should be at once adopted for the march ing of Austrian troops across the frontiers of Montenegro to crush out at once, and effectually, this new crusade preached by the disloyal VLADIRA♦ As for the course which should be adopted towards the Athenian Govern ment, that rests entirely, we conceive, in the hands of the allies of Turkey—not in the hands of any allies of the allies, but in those, we repeat, of the allies themselves. Arrangements, let us hope, have already been made by England and France for the prevention of further ill consequences from these deplorable insurrections. Of this we shall rest confident, until the nature of our proceedings with regard to Greece have been explained. For indifference upon the matter of these lawless risings in Epirus and Thessaly would, according to the phrase of TALLEYRAND, be worse than a crime : they would be a mistake on the part of the allied Governments. The bubble has burst ! The insane delusion, so long and so fondly cherished, is dispelled I The operatives of Preston have again "struck," but this time for a very different purpose. The pre sent is merely the abandonment of their former strike—the acknowledgment of their decisive and unequivocal defeat. We have, in common with every unprejudiced person, long foreseen the in evitable result, and endeavoured to induce the misguided men to abridge the term of privation and suffering to which they had subjected them selves and their families by their unjustifiable pro ceedings. It required, indeed, no extraordinary powers of vaticination to predict the discomfiture of the delegates and committeemen, who, while their dupes obtained barely sufficient to support existence on the coarsest and commonest food, were living on the fat of the land, and receiving, for spouting in public-houses or making platform ora tions, more than twice as much as they could have earned by honest industry at their legitimate occupa tions. They exercised, too, the most despotic autho rity, permitting neither opposition nor remonstrance to their dictates, flattering their victims with untenable hopes of a triumphant termination to the internecine conflict, and putting forward claims that rendered an amicable arrangement, or anything like submission on the pact of the employers, impossible. If they did not directly avow their ultimate end and object, they at least indicated it so plainly that no possibility of doubt or misconception remained. - They clearly show that the concession of the " ten per cent." wourd" not by any means have led to the settlement of the dispute. They had determined, in fact, to keep " the ball rolling," by putting forward claim after claim, interfering in every possible way between the employers and their working people, so that a certain number should Always be on the "turn out." By such means they hoped to achieve their real purpose, namely, to "control the destinies of trade," and to reduce the nominal masters to the condition of mere puppets, the obedient execu tants of their decrees, without a voice in the management of their own affairs, but liable to serious loss, if not absolute ruin, at the caprice of an irresponsible and grossly ignorant body. These audacious demands, these blustering bravados, compelled the masters to defend them selvtls vigorously and energetically. They saw that anything approaching to concession would be fatal to their own interests—that it would lead to the > vithdiawal of capital from these branches of itnudre t u ste rivals who the tran s f er o f th e en ti re manufac valesua who would speedily n whoare alreadytreadinugtsctlroisp n closely in on our I he e l s, the race of competition if we were so unduly we igh ted. It is true that the working classes the tm selves would be involved in one common de stri teriion with their employers—that, like the ma: t represented by ROGARTII as sawitu , the sign p„l ;, the success of their attempt would occasion a d a ugerous fall to themselves. But that would be butt. 'tile consolation to th e b an k rupt mill owners,and even iceling of philanthropy, as well as the in stinct A )f self-defence, not only prompted a deter mined resistance, but that they in turn should le war into the enemy's country. T he carry tzl un i on a f the operatives was met by the union of the ma, it ers ; the " turn-out" of the hands by the "lock-< )1 It" from all mills belonging to the asso ciated e t al3 l°Yers* Thus the secession from some half-doz lan factories led to the clo sin g of almos t every es tablishment in Preston. Under ordinary oircumati memo-this Dove would have proved deci- THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 3, 1854. sive. But the delegates had formed more ambi- I tious projects. In place of conquering separate firms, and supporting the turn-outs by the con tributions of the hands who remained at work until it came to their turn to exact exorbitant terms, they hoped to conquer entire towns and districts, while the contributions flowed in from the whole of Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire. The call of the delegates was very generally responded to. Collections were made at Blackburn, Stockport, and a variety of other places. Nor were the parties en gaged in similar pursuits the only donors, for numerous trade unions in London and several large towns subscribed very handsomely to the funds. About 3,0001. sterling—about a fourth only of what the earnings would have been —was received every week, and distributed to the hands, who were thus enabled with difficulty to support existence, though necessarily submitting to the greatest privations. Preston was thus made the battle-ground on which the determined struggle for mastery between the representatives of labour and capital was to be brought to a ter mination. All applications for assistance from other quarters were sternly rejected, however strong the claims of the parties. The resources of the unionists were strained to the utmost on behalf of the men of Preston, and every available shilling was applied in that quarter. A counter-move thus became necessary on the part of the employers, and as funds came into the men from other localities, so also did they to the associated masters. It was, indeed, much easier, as we have recently shown, to provide for the losses of the mill-owners, whose doors were closed and the machinery standing idle, than to sup-, port some twenty thousand persons in unproduc tive idleness. Though " the hands" might not be " tired of playing"—though they might sub mit with patience to the greatest privations, the contributors would speedily get " tired" of main taining them, and of applying to such purposes con siderable portions of earnings, the whole of which were required for their own use. As long as there was a prospect of the masters speedily surrendering, the sacrifice might be endured ; but when that hope ceased, as was longsince the case everywhere, save at Preston, the incessant demands, the horse leech cry, " Give, give, give," became irksome and intolerable. The associated masters saw their advantage, and followed it up by a vigorous and formidable attack on the weakest point of their opponents' line. They commenced bringing new hands to take the place of those who still stood to their arms. The delegates saw the formidable nature of the blow, and took measures to avert it, by persuading the new corners to return to their native place. Prosecutions were, however, forth with commenced against the persons who adopted this course, which, it was asserted, brought them within the operation of the criminal law. The accused succeeded in putting off the trial until next assizes, but they saw that they were playing a very dangerous game, which they could no longer carry on with impunity. One convulsive effort remained—not for victory—but to make it a drawn battle. The services of the " Mediation Committee" were put in requisition, but the as sociated masters firmly, but respectfully, declined the proffered intervention. Nothing but uncon ditional submission was practicable, and on Mon day last the bitter draught was swallowed, and the delegates were compelled to announce that, after "36 weeks' struggle, they were obliged to bring the contest to a temporary close." The address was, however, as ill-advised as the rest of their proceedings. In place of submitting with a good grace, they sought to aggravate the feelings of the operatives already sufficiently ex asperated. They spoke of " hireling agents" of " nefarious misrepresentations" and " un holy crusades," rind distinctly announced that it was not a permanent settlement of the dispute, but a temporary truce, until the defeated army has recruited its forces suffi ciently to resume active hostilities. The hands were advised " to resume work," but only " until a mare favourable opportunity 1" While Mr. COWELL, the recognised leader of the malcontents, told them in his farewell oration to " rest as sured, that, whenever a reaction takes place in the commercial affairs of this country, the telling note shall again be sounded in Preston, ten per cent., and no surrender." This was scarcely ju dicious, at the very moment when he was be speaking the forbearance of the victors. While such threats were sounding in their ears, they must be singularly imprudent if they did not insist on adequate guarantees against the re currence of similar events, and exact from those who have surrendered at, discretion at least the repudiation of the " Unions," which Mr. CowELL so emphatically recommends to be preserved. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. , CITY TWO o'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool 3 esterday were estimated at from 3,000 to 4,000 bales all to the trade. The market closed heavily compared with Friday's rates, prices of American under Sid were a point in favour of buyers. Other kinds without alteration. The sales comprised 20 Bahia at 6d.,250 Egyp tian at Gd. to Bd., 300 Surat at 3d. to 31d., and 30 Sea Island at ls. Id. to 2s. Gd., and the remainder American. Railway shares were flat. Upon the state of the silk trade, Mr. Henry W. Eaton writes as follows : " There is little that is satisfactory to report of the Silk market during April, the same limited business having continued, with, however, a slightly improved demand within the last week or ten days. This has been chiefly confined to Chinas, both shippers and home consumers being naturally tempted by the disposition evinced by importers to meet the trade, in the hope of in some degree dispelling the distrust created by th 3 ex cessive arrivals, but which it 'must be remembered com prise an unusually large proportion of inferior sorts not adapted to present uses." The advices from Peru, show that the Govern ment forces were repulsed, and had retreated upon Lima. The sympathies of almost the entire popu lation were with the revolutionists, but the corrupt Government had, probably by the very surrepti tious issue of Bonds which has caused so much loss here, present means in hand which enabled it to sustain the contest. The letters and papers by the Overland Mail, via Southampton, have arrived. The mail on board the Great Britain steamer will be transferred to the Overland Mail, via South ampton, without extra charge, a pro ce edin g that reflects much credit on the post-office authorities. The letters from the Continent do not advise any change in the money markets. Capital was gene rally abundant. The rates for bills of exchange upon the principal continental cities were.yesterday afternoon a shade firmer, but with very little doing. All the gold recently arrived from Australia has been taken for exportation, besides a further amount from the Bank of England. At the special general meeting of the Royal Hibernian Mining Company, the report stated that at the Clogher Mine the shaft was sunk to the depth of 20 fathoms, when good specimens of lead were brought up. Gold had been found in the gossan to the extent of 3ozs. 4dwts. 23grs. per ton at the Castlemaine Mine, and was in great abundance. After payment of the last cost-sheet, the . balance in hand was 2,097/. 3s. 10d. A. long discussion took place as to the purchasing one of Berdan's machines, but it was agreed that the out lay should not be incurred till further experience had been obtained as to the result of those ma chines. EXCHEQUER BONDS.—The result of the Exche quer Bond scheme was naturally looked forward to this morning with considerable interest, and from the fact having transpired that tenders were sent in as high as 881. lls. and 881. 145., it was concluded that a large proportion of the six millions would be subscribed. It would appear that the Government minimum was too high. The following is the offi cial notice upon the subject : "The First Lord of the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer hereby give notice, that subscriptions will be received daily at the Bank of England, between the hours of ten a.m. and two p.m., up to and including the Bth May instant, until such subscriptions shall com plete the specified sum of 2,000,0001., from such persons as shall be desirous of subscribing at the reserved sealed price which has been fixed for such Bonds—that is, at 981. 15s. for each 1001. of such Bonds, for the Exchequer Bonds described in the notice of 21st April as Bonds A, payable at par Bth May, 1858, subject to the conditions as to the payment of the deposit and the instalments which are set forth in the notice of 21st April above re ferred to. --- " Downing-street, 2d May, 1854." Subscriptions are now being made at the Bank of England, and it is supposed the two millions will be absorbed, but there is no information as to what will be done with the other four millions. Probably they will be made to expire also in 1858, that the Government may get a better price. Consols opened with a firm appearance, being at 87i to 88, but they subsequently fell to 871 in consequence of the impression thit the financial operation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer has not proved successful. The money prices for Con sols have been higher than those for account, no bargains having been entered into under 87i The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have realised 87-1 to 7, and the Three per Cents. 861 to 87i. India Bonds have been at ss. discount. There has been no business done in Exchequer Bills or Bank stock. Foreign Securities are very inactive and droop ing. Spanish New Deferred have been done at 174 to and the Passive Converted at 3. The Committee's Certificate is at Mexican Bonds have been heavy at 23i to -1 1 . Dutch 4 per Cents. have realised 85k. The Railway Share Market has been compa ratively quiet, but prices generally are not well maintained. The principal transactions have been in Great Northern, which are lower by about 15s. ; Great Western, which dropped 1/. ; Brighton, 10s.; and Caled on i an , Midl an d , an d t h e rest generally in proportion since Consols declined. Foreign Shares have been lower, but nominally the French lines are firmer than the others. The Mining Share Market has been quiet, at previous rates, as well as the Banks and Miscel laneous Shares, but sales have been pressed in Crystal Palace at a slight decline. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. ( From the Official List.) Business done. 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 874 61 3 per Cont. Consols Annuities 873 8 73 i New 31 per Cent. Annuities 873 Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Dittc 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 4l India Bonds, £ lOOO ... ..... ............... Ditto, under £lOOO l4 d Consols for Account 11th May 873 i 4 i PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Mexican 3 per Cent. Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. l7i Ditto Passive (Converted) Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 33 P Dividends on the above payable In London. Dutch Exchange, 23 per Cent. 12 Gull 5B Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates ..... HALF-PAST TWO. Consols 873 a Ditto May Account DEATH OF THE DEAN OF ST. ASAPH.—We have to record the death of the Very Rev. Charles Scott Lux moore, M.A., Dean of St. Asaph, which has taken place at his residence at Cradley. The late dean was the son of the Rev. Dr. Luxmoore, Bishop successively of Here ford and St. Asaph, from which prelate he received a large amount of ecclesiastical patronage. In addition to the deanery, worth about 1,2001. a-year, the rev. gentle man was rector of Cradley, worth 1,0001. a-year, to which he was presented in 1816 ; sinecnre rector of Bromyard, to which he was presented in the same year; sinecure rector of Darowen, worth 2001; a-year, to which he was presented in 1810 ; chan cellor of St. Asaph Cathedral, and prebendary of Ifereford. All these appointments he held up to the time of his death. His brother, the Rev. J. H. M. Luxmoore, holds a very large share of the patronage the bishop had to bestow, being a canon residentiary of St. Asaph, sinecure rector of Llanarmore, rector of Marchurch, and vicar of Moreton ; in the aggregate worth considerably more than 2,0001. a year. The late dean's death renders vacant a seat in the convocatii*i of the province of Canterbury. The deanery is in the gift of the Right Rev. Dr. Thomas Yowler Short, who now holds the bishopric of St. Asaph. The dean, in con. junction with the chapter, has some ecclesiastical pa. tronage at his disposal, but nit so much as the head of any other chapter. THE PROPOSED NEW WELLINGTON DOCKS. The committee appointed to consider the provisions of the bill referred to them for the formation of the extensive docks between Deptford and Rotherhithe, met yester day morning (for the sixteenth time), when after a short discussion the room was cleared. Upon the re-admis sion of the public, Mr. Vernon Smith, the chairman, announced to the parties that the committee had come to the conclusion that the preamble had not been proved. The bill is consequently lost for the present session. The expenses of the inquiry, both on the part of the promot ers of the bill and the opposition thereto are enormous. THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON.—_yea• terday the members of the corporation who visited the courts at Guildhall were busily engaged in speculating upon the account circulated during the day as to certain changes recommended in the Report of the Commission erp of Corporation Inquiry. The principal matter of interest pointed at the Court of Aldermen. It was stated by some of the best authorities in the neighbour hood, that the report recommends that the number of the aldermen should be reduced from 26 to 18, and that to them should be given the power to choose two stipen dary magistrates to do the police business of the Man sion-house and Guildhall justice-rooms. It was said, too, that a considerable reduction is recommended as to the numbers of the Court of Common Council. AUBREY, BY THE AUTHOR OF " EMILIA WYNDHAM," &C.—lt is some time since we have had a novel from the popular author of "Emilia Wyndham" and "Two Old Men's Tales." She has, however, amply compensated for the delay by the excellence of her new story. "Aubrey" will decidedly rank as among the very best of all her productions. The charming picture of the heroine, the powerfully contrasted characters of the two brothers who figure as her lover and husband, the remarkable plot, and the exciting interest with which it is worked up to the startling denouement, all tend to make this the most attractive novel that has appeared during the season. LATEST FOREIGN NEWS. THE WAR. DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS. The Times, in a third edition of this day, pub lishes the following most important despatch from their correspondent at Vienna :-- " VIENNA, WEDNESDAY MORNING. " The following report circulates in Bucharest : —Omer Pasha advanced with 70,000 men towards the Dobrudscha on the 18th or 19th of April, and a battle took place with Luders' corps between Silistria and Rassova. " During the night, Omer Pasha had detached a division in the direction of the Black Sea, and when the battle was at its height the next day this corps attacked the Russians in their rear, causing unexampled confusion and consternation. " General Luders retreated towards Czernavoda, and it is said that the Russians lost many guns, ammunition, stores, and baggage waggons, and even their military chest. " Ou the 20th a Turkish flying corps crossed the Danube below Silistria in order to destroy the Russian strand batteries. They advanced to Kalarash, where there was hard fighting for some hours. " The Turks fought like lion; but, being terribly overmatched, were ultimately forced to retreat." COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, took a drive in an open landau and four yesterday afternoon. The Equerries in Waiting, Lord Charles Fitzroy and Captain the Hon. Dudley De Ros, were in attendance on horseback. The Princesses Helena and Louisa took a drive in an open carriage and four in the forenoon. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Cap• thin the Hon. Dudley De Ros, rode on horseback. Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the Prin cess's Theatre with their presence in the evening. The Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting were the Countess of Charlemont, the Hon. Caroline Cavendish, Lord De Tabley, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Captain the Hon. Dudley De Ros. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent also honoured the performance at the Prin cess's Theatre with her presence yesterday evening. Her Royal Highness was attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson, Lady Augusta Bruce, and Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. Alexander N. Hood. A deputation on the subject. of restricting the use of highways by electric telegraph companies, had an in terview with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell yesterday, at the Board of Trade. The deputation consisted of Mr. John Smith tWeltpn Garth, Hull), Mr. B. M. Julland (Holderness House, Hull), Mr. Thomas Thompson (Spring-hill, Welton, Hull), Mr. Charles Frere (Hull), and Mr. Duraford. The deputation was introduced by Lord Hotham, M.P., and Capt. Duncombe, M.P. The Governor of the Bank of England, the Deputy Governor, and Sir Alexander Spearman had an inter view with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Mr. John Wood. Chairman of the Board of Inland Re venue, and Mr. Pressly, had also an interview with the right hon. gentleman, at his official residence in Down ing-street. Colonel W. L. Freestun, M.P., had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. P Mena TO AIISTRALIA.—The Great Britain, with ship letter mails for Australia, having damaged her ma chinery and returned to Liverpool, those mails will be despatched on the 6th inst. by packet, via Southampton and Singapore. No additional postage will be charged on the letters. The Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter leave Burgh ley House this week for Grosvenor-square, for the season. The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and the Lady Mary Adeliza Howard have arrived in St. James's-street, for the season. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—A dramatic performance by amateurs took place last night, under distinguished pa tronage, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the funds of the Central Association in behalf of the wives and families of the soldiers sent out to the East. The performances comprised the comedy of The Ladies' Battle, the comic drama Where there's a Will there's a Way, and the farce of The Fast Coach. Between the two first pieces an appropriate and well-written address was spoken by Mr.W. Rayne. The theatre was not crowded, but the terms of admission were high, and many of the friends of the amateurs were induced to take tickets who did not attend, so that the receipts, after defraying all expenses, will leave a handsome burplus to go to the fund. The friends of the amateurs appeared intensely gratified with the whole entertainment. Lin MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY, May 2. The Royal Mail steam-ship La Plata, Captain C. G. Weller, sailed to-day with the usual mails for the Bri tish and foreign West Indies, Mexico, and the Pacific, taking out 53 passengers, value 48,800/., quicksilver value 3,0031., and a large cargo of English and French merchandise. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Manilla sailed this afternoon for Gibraltar, Malta, and Constantinople, taking out a very full and valuable cargo and a large quantity of Government stores. The following steam-ships may be expected to reach Southampton within the next day or two :—The Peninsular and Oriental Company's ships Himalaya and Colombo, from the Mediterranean ; the Madrid, from Gibraltar, Cadiz, Lisbon, Oporto, and Vigo ; and the General Screw Company's steamer Lady Jocelyn (due on the 26th ult.) from India, the Mauritius, and the Cape ; and the Cape of Good Hope, from Constanti nople and Malta. The United States' mail steamer Hermann i s expecte d to touc h o ff C owe s on Th urs d ay or Friday next on her way to Bremen. The Royal Mail steamer Severn , will tak e out the next Brazil and Rio Plata mails of the Lieutenant Hest, R.N., commander, 9th inst. In consequence of the 7th of the month fall ing On Sunday, the mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz, and, Gibraltp.r will be despatched by the Tagus steamer, on Monday, the Bth inst. CAPTURE OF PETA BY THE TURKS. The Moniteur of this morning publishes the fol lowing intelligence : " CORFU, April 26.—Peta, the principal centre of the Greek insurrection, was taken on the 23rd by the Ottoman forces under the command of Osman Pacha, after 50 minutes' fighting. The in surgents mustered about 3,000 men, led by Tzavellas and Karaischakis, and had about 150 killed. The number of wounded is not known. The loss of the Turks was 5 killed and 12 wounded. Amongst the killed is the secretary of Tzavellas. " These details were furnished to the Lord High Commissioner by Fuad Effendi himself, who was present at the action. It is expected that this victory will go far towards procuring the submis sion of the country" MANIFESTO OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. The following is a copy of the manifesto of the Czar to his people, of which we gave the substance yesterday. The important document appears in the Supplement Extraordinary to the Journal de SAPetersburg, of April 11 (23d), 1854, No. 379 : " ST. PETERSBURG, APRIL 11 (23). "By the grace of God, we, Nicholas the First, Em peror and Autocrat of all the Ruisias, King of Poland, &c., &c., to all our subjects make known : Since the commencement of our difference with the Turkish Go vernment, we have solemnly announced to our faithful subjects that a sentiment of justice had alone ind used us to re-establish the violated rights of the orthodox Chris tians, subjects of the Ottoman Porte. " We have not sought, we do not seek, to make con quests, nor to exercise in Turkey any supremacy what ever, that might be likely to exceed that influence which belongs to Russia by virtue of existing treaties. "At that period we already encountered distrust, then soon a covert hostility on the part of the Governments of France and England, who endeavoured to lead the Porte astray by misrepresenting our intentions. Lastly, at this moment, England and France throw off the mask, regard our difference with Turkey as a mere secondary question, and no longer dissemble that their joint ob ject is to weaken Russia, to tear from her a part of her possessions, and to bring down our country from the powerful position to which the hand of the Supreme Being had exalted it. " Is it for orthodox Russia to fear such threats ! " Ready to confound the audacity of the enemy, shall she swerve from the sacred purpose that has been assigned to her by Divine Providence ? No ! Russia has not forgotten God ! It is not for worldly interests that she has taken up arms : she combats for the Chris tain faith, for the defence of her co-religionists oppressed by implacable enemies. " Let all Christendom know, then, that the tholight of the Sovereign of Russia is also the thought that ani mates and inspires all the great family of the Russian people—this orthodox people, faithful to God and to his only Son Jesus Christ our Redeemer. "It is for the faith and for Christendom that we combat ! " God with us—who against us ? "Given at St. Petersburg, on the 11th day of the month of April, in the year of grace 1851, and the twenty-ninth of our reign. (Signed) "NICHOLAS." ST. PETERSBURG, April 23.—The following war tax is now being levied here ; On the tradesmen and merchants of the Ist guild, 300 silver roubles ; on those of the 2d guild, 160 ; and on those of the 3d guild, 106. All housekeepers without distinc tion are assessed 10 per cent. on the actual rent they pay or receive. Accounts from Berlin declare that preparations are being made to strengthen the defences of St. Petersburg. The Guards have left St. Petersburg for their cantonments on the Baltic. The reserve of the Grenadiers have been ordered to St. Petersburg. STORMING OF ODESSA. The Moniteur of yesterday contains the follow ing note, which fully confirms the news of the bom bardment of Odessa, as communicated by telegraph. It brings news to the 23d ult. According to these despatches, the damage done by the combined fleet to the town was not very extensive. They only destroyed the small port called the Port of the Quarantine : "The report of Admiral Hamelin gives an account of the manner in which the military authorities of Odessa conducted themselves towards the Furious, when pro vided with a flag of truce. As the language of the admi ral seemed to imply, this derogation from the usages of civilised nations—or, to speak more corectly, this infringe. ment on the rights of nations—was not to remain long unpunished. A telegraphic despatch from Vienna, of April 30, says :—' Official news from Odessa, of the 23d, announces the bombardment of that place by nine ves sels of the combined fleet. When the courier left, the cannonade had lasted ten hours, and was still going on. One of the Russian batteries had been completely destroyed and several vessels anchored in the port had been burned. After the evacuation of Lesser Wallachia by the Russians, the Turkish troops had taken possession of three im portant points in advance of Kalafat, and were marching on Krajowa, which place they were to occupy this day. The fact of the Russians having met with a severe check in the Dobrudscha is officially confirmed ; but the details of the engagement, or even the precise spot on which it took place, are not known. Silistria, though vigorously attacked, resists with success. The Russians have al ready experienced a heavy loss.' " ODESSA, April 26.—Since the 22d all is quiet. The English and French fleets are leaving the road steads. The town is uninjured. Some houses of the quarantine port have been burnt. Prince Paskiewitsch allows the export of grain from the Principalities to Austria. The Montenegrins crossed the Turkish frontier at Niksich on the 20th. Turkish regulars repulsed them. DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE. It appears that the announcement in our Mon day's edition of the departure of the Duke of Cambridge from Trieste was premature. His de parture was delayed until yesterday (Tuesday), when he left Trieste for Corfu. THE DANUBE. The Journal de Constantinople of the 19th, says :—" 1n one of the last engagements on the line of the Danube, several soldiers of the Imperial troops took from Russian officers who were slain a considerable quantity of gold pieces and of paper roubles. They gave up the entire sum to their officers, and it has been sent to Constantinople." SEMLIN, April 28.—The Turks, a s they ad vanced:into Little Wallachia, were received w ith the greatest enthusiasm. The gßussians were making tremendous pre parations for a regular attack on Silistria. Liprandi's corps will probably attempt to pass the Danube at Nicopoli. RITTSCIIUK, April B.—l arrived hero last night, and found the report which had met me on the road that the Russians had crossed the Danube in force at Matchin and Issatche, under the command of General Luders, fully confirmed. In the midst of all the rumours that are flying on every side, it is impossible to make any positive statement as to their numbers. It is alleged, on the one hand, that they are 80,000 strong, whilst others affirm with equal confidence that they do not amount to more than 15,000. I can hardly believe, however, that they would venture to enter Bulgaria unless with a large body of troops, and am inclined to set them down at at least 50,000 or 60,000. The Turkish troops, in accordance with orders previously re ceived, have fallen back on towards Shumla, where the main body of the army has been rapidly concen trated. According to the last accounts Omer Pacha was. at Bazardjik with 65,000 men, and was prepar ing to offer battle. In the meantime the Russians are advancing westward,. and have occupied the whole, or nearly the whole, of the Dobrudschll. They are already within twelve leagues of Silis tria, and the inhabitants are sending their harems and valuables in hero every day. The panic has even extended to Tortrokan. The greater part of the troops quartered here marched for Shumla this morning. Everything is, in short, being done to increase the force which will strike the decisive blow. In case of defeat, Omer Pacha has no re source but to fall back on Shumla and stand his ground there until the arrival of the English and French troops, and of the Turkish reserve, which have not yet reached the scene of action. Re ports were current here last night, which I can hardly believe, that the Cossacks who, as you know, generally overrun the country 40 or 50 miles in advance of the main body, were already on the road between this and Shumla, and that the communi cation was consequently cut off. The post, how ever, arrived here safely this morning, and brings no confirmation of the statement. I start for the latter place to-morrow, and trust that no unpleasant contingency of this sort—for thatsuch a contingency does exist it is impossible to deny —may prevent me reaching the scene of action in sufficient time. I am fully confident that Omer Pacha will, if not decisively victorious, be at least able to maintain himself until the allied forces arrive. If these turn the scale, and the Russians are defeated, they are lost, as the Dobrudscha is a sterile and desolate district, and the inhabitants are fiercely hostile. The cannonading on each side • of the river has ceased here for some time past, but the chasseurs still keep up a popping of carbines to every one who goes down to get water, or in fact approaches the bank for any purpose. THE BALTIC. COPENHAGEN, Monday.—The law on contraband has appeared. Four Norwegian ships have passed the Great Belt, bound for Carlscrona. Fislisch is appointed Minister of the Interior, and Versted provisionally Minister of Justice during Scheel's absence. OBSTACLES TO AN ATTACK UPON CRONSTADT. Although the presence of a mighty naval arma ment like the one here is naturally calculated to raise some suspicious doubts in the minds of a people who once suffered so severely from England 53 years ago, yet I am convinced the Danes gene rally regard our fleet with the kindliest feelings and best wishes for its success. At the same time, owing to the difficulties attending carrying on a war against Russia, the Danes wish to preserve their neutrality. lam aware that in England this desire of remaining neutral is looked upon as a leaning towards Russia, either through fear or in terest ; but I belie - re it arises from a feeling that their active interference against our common enemy would only drag them into increased expenditure, and in no way accelerate the end of the war. The Danes acknowledge our power here to be enor mous ; our ships models of naval architecture, and the crews fine high-spirited fellows, who, if they could only meet the Russian fleets in an open contest at sea, would settle the question of marine supremacy for centuries to come. From several Danish naval officers I have heard that the best authorities here would answer for our success against more than doubl e our own f orce . T o -d a y there is a report that the French fleet from Brest, of 25 sail, has entered these waters. When these vessels join the English, the combined fleets here will amount in round! numbers to 70 vessels, with 30,000 men, and about 3,000 guns—enough to destroy any enemy to be found bold enough to get in the way. But a naval engagement seems to be the very last thing the Emperor Nicholas ever contemplated rushing into. Then, of what avail are these fine ships ? " Oh," our countrymen say, " they are going to make an overwhelming attack upon Cronstadt." This seems in England to have been so general an opinion, that a few words of information gathered from those who have fre quently navigated the Gulf of Finland may not be out of place. The Baltic, in all its parts a shallow and uncertain sea, becomes, in the Gulf of Fin land, still more so ; and is thickly interspersed with islands, between which are narrow channels indicated to the pilots by buoys and marks. These marks have now all been removed, and the buoys taken up, and rocks sunk in their places (some say filled with powder), but this requires confirma tion. We will, for the sake of argument, sup pose that a clever pilot (without anything to guide him) succeeded in bringing a part of the fleet to the westernmost point of the island of Cronstadt. At this point the channel will only admit of one vessel passing at a time, which, upon its arrival opposite Risbauk, would have more than 600 cannon shot poured into its bows instantane ously. Of course it would be sunk at once, and thus the channel would be effectually blocked. This is supposing any of our largest vessels can get up a channel haying in its deepest part about ' fathoms water. If an attack upon Cronstadt is contemplated at all, the only chance of success lies in our possessing mortars that will carry shells a mile further than the Russian batteries can reach ; but I fear that even then it would be a very bloody struggle, although of course we must con clude that the admirals of the combined fleets took all these matters into their consideration before they came here. Helsingfors and Sweaborg, which lie on the north side of the gulf, are scarcely more assailable than Cronstadt itself, being well defended by batteries commanding narrow channels ; but it is believed here that they might be taken, although not without great loss to ourselves. But then, again, it is feared that while Cronstadt holds out, the Emperor will not feel himself compelled to come to terms. What will Sir Charles do ? Will this mag nificent fleet be used in a long and tedious blockade of the Russian ports, in which our loss in expenses will far exceed the Russian ? The desire of the Emperor is, doubtless, that he may have the satis faction of destroying our fleet in detail under the fire of the Cronstadt batteries. But this I sin cerely trust will not be put in his power without due precautions being taken to insure our success. In the meantime the people of England are ex pecting their favourite fleet to achieve some wonders in these seas. That the Russian power will even tually be humbled here and elsewhere no one can doubt ; but who can say when, or how long the struggle may last ? If courage, ability, and daring enterprise will insure success, the day will soon be our own; but how will they avail against the cold, negative opposition and cunning artifice which have always characterised the Russian tactics ? The old policy is new being followed ; that of re treating to some unassailable point, and there making a final stand. This plan has the double advantage of economising their own resources and wearing out those of the enemy. May we soon obtain some advantage and recover the blessings of peace ; but at present there seems very little chance of such a wished-for consummation. THE WEATHER IN THE BALTIC. The following are the latest advices received in reference to the state of the navigation in the Baltic : SODERHAMN, April 21.--The Fairway, as well as the entrance to this port, is perfectly free of ice. SUNDSWALL, April 20.—The river here is open, as well as a portion of Ahlno Sound, so that the navi gation of these waters will, in the course of a few days, be uninterrupted. MEMEL, April 28.—Weather unsettled. Wind S.E. to S., with rain ; 14 feet 3 inches water on the bar. THE BLACK SEA. THE SKIRMISH WITH THE RUSSIA NS AT KUSTENDJE. The following are some details respecting the ap parition of the Russian cavalry at Kustendje. The steamers Sidon and Magellan were both anchored in that port, and the captain of the latter with some of his men set out on a shooting excursion. Having arrived at a wood in the neighbourhood of the town, the party encounted some troopers be longing to a regiment of Russian caval r y i n am bush at no great distance from the spot. The French commander and his men opened instantly a brisk fire, and having killed two of the Russians, betook themselves in all haste to their boats, which they' found unfortunately stranded. The Russians came on in numbers, and would ha ve necessar ily captured the whole French party, had it not been that the affair was described by people on board the Magellan, who, by means of a shell, launched at all risks and all hazards, but with admirable pre cision, killed several of the Russian party with out inflicting the slightest injury on their own friends. The confusion produced by so unexpected a reception, enabled the captain and his men to right their boat, embark, and regain their ship. The first shell from the Magellan was followed up by several shots from her long guns, which, it is un derstood, did good execution, and dispersed pele- Tule the Muscovites. MEDICAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE ENGLISH FLEET. —A private letter from the Black Sea fleet dated Kavarna, April 14, contains the following : " Every preparation in the medical department has been made for the eventualities of the war in the Black Sea. All the medical officers, with few exceptions, in this fleet are men of standing and experience ; but few new entries. Extra supplies of medicines and medical comforts have been oppor tunely sent out, including abundance of chloroform, cotton wadding, &c. An hospital has been °eta, Wished at Therapia, on the Bosphorus, in a large kiosk or palace of the Sultan, pleasantly situate near the beach, with extensive grounds attached to it, the whole surrounded by a high wall. This building, when full, will contain from 150 to 200 beds. Any great action taking place will be off or at Sebastopol. The wounded of such an action would be transferred in 30 or 35 hours to comfortable beds and excellent accommodation on the Bos phorus. The fleet will have the benefit of this hospital, extra of that fine establishment at Malta, to which the wounded will be transferred from Thcrapia—such of them as may require a change of climate or rest on their way home, for those in valided and rendered unfit for further active service in this fleet. Lord Carlisle, to our great pleasure, has paid the admiral another short visit. He takes immense interest in the war. He is off this evening in the Fury, going to coal in the Bosphorus, and will continue his way home." Telegraphic accounts were received in Paris yes terday afternoon from Odessa, to the effect that the English and French fleets had weighed anchor early in the morning of the 26th April, and had taken their departure, it was conjectured, for Sebastopol. CONDUCT OF THE WAR BY THE ALLIED TROOPS. There are grand principles in the conduct of a war (writes the correspondent of a contemporary), upon which all the most eminent authorities have hitherto been agreed. One of these principles is never to act upon the defensive until the aggressive has been tried and failed. In other words, to re serve the advantages of time, place, and instru ments of attack, rather than to offer them to the enemy, and thus to maintain the moral influence which an offensive campaign, conducted with energy, exercises over the troops engaged in it, which is of a precisely opposite character to that experienced by the enemy, so that what is gained by the one is so much directly subtracted from the other. The same rules which have governed other wars are surely in this case susceptible of application more than usually rigid. The whole question to be solved, then, is how the allied powers may most speedily and satisfactorily terminate this war ; and it is important to consider whether they can expect to bringabout this result by concentrating their armies in the immediate neighbourhood of Constantinople, and constructing lines of defence at Gallipoli or Bouzouk Tchekmedje, for to these objects opera tions seem at present to be directed. The forma tion of a permanent camp in - -the vicinity of Con stantinople must have a most depressing effect upon the inhabitants, who will be led to infer, from the position of our army, that a moral conviction exists in this country that sooner or later their capital is to be invested by Russian troops, while the proxi mity of so large a garrison of Christian soldiers must have a most paralysing effect upon the autho rity of the Turkish Government ; but, after all, the consideration of most consequence to us is, will our army there be in the best position to meet the Muscovite hosts, flushed with victory, and within sight of the long-coveted dome of St. Sophia? So far as we, the ignorant public, can judge of the use of the lines at Gallipoli, their principal object seems to be to protect the embarkation of our troops after they have been utterly routed, and the Russians are in possession of Constantinople. The fortification of such a port is doubtless an ope ration of the utmost importance, though it does not seem the most brilliant opening of the cam paign. At the same time it is worthy of remark that no analogy can be drawn between the lines at Gallipoli and those of Torres Vedras, for as yet our army has not suffered a Corunna. Instead of forming a base of operations which presupposes de feats our hope of success seems to lie in the adop tion of a more vigorous and spirited policy, and we may render substantial assistance to our allies by the immediate conveyance of our troops to the seat of war, or by the invasion of those southern pro vinces of the Russian Empire whose unprotected coasts and disaffected populations invite such an en terprise. Of the importance of such a movement in a strategetical point of view there cannot be much doubt; but, if it is contemplated at all, delay will in conceivably enhance its difficulty. So long as the centre of the Turkish line upon the Danube remains unbroken, and the coast of the Dobrudscha is threat ened by our fleets, the position of the Russian army in that peninsula must be eminently critical. Whether it may be more expedient to support Omer Pacha at Shumla than to attack the Russian army of occupation, is a question for military authorities to decide. In either case it is to be hoped that, with our present naval resources, the idea hae never been entertained of marching any portion of the army across the Balkan, and that no more troops are likely to follow that detachment which haa already been ordered to Adrianople. That army which has been sent out to defy the colossal power of Russia are surely not to be employed any longer in duties which ought to be undertaken by an army of reserve. Landed either at Varna or at Odessa they would be more useful than at Gallipoli or Scutari, and it would be wiser to strike a blow either in front or in flank than to confine ourselves to preparations of defence or retreat. A vast deal of energy and money has been expended in vain if the end and object contemplated by our expeditionary army was the protection of Constantinople. By confining the operations of our army to the south of the Balkan, we shall dishearten the Turkish forces, who are anxiously expecting their arrival, and encourage their adversaries, who will assume fresh confidence as they gain both time and men. The power of the one for resistance will thus become diminished in proportion as the resources of the other for attack are increased ; the patience of our own. troops will be worn out when they find that they have to contend only with the hardships inciden tal to an ill-organised commissarist instead of the enemy they long to meet. The disaffected popula tions of Russia will sink into apathy and despair as the prospect of freedom becomes fartherremoved than ever, and the means of attack which the in ternal weakness of Russia affords are neglected ; the public at home will at last discover that the object of the war for which they have been so heavily taxed will never be gained, and the Em peror Nicholas will have reason to congratulate himself not only on having succeeded in those schemes of aggression which he at present enter tains, but on having destroyed the prestige which attaches to the expeditionary army, and which is now doubly enhanced by an alliance which should prove irresistible. OMER PACHA AT SHUMLA. The loss or sickness of Omer Pacha at this tine would be a calamity of incalculable magnitude to the cause of Turkey. There is no other _man in the army who is not immeasurably below him in all the qualificatiohs requisite for a military com mander. The amount of labour that he undergoes is immense. During the day he is occupied, not only with riding along the vast chain of works, and in attending to the discipline of the army, but in looking at the quarters of the troops, and in visiting the hospitals. He leaves nothing entirely to subor dinates. He may be said to be not only military chief, but adjutant- genera l, quartermaster-general, and physician -general. During the night, the cor respondence that he has to read, and the despatches lie has to write and send off deprive him of much of the time that shouldle given to the re storation of nature's exhausted energies. So over worked has he been that lately he had a serious de rangement of the stomach or bowels, and he was apprehensive his system was giving way. Notwith standing his unwearied attention to his professional duties, he is not a man who prefers war to peace, or whose ideas are confined entirely to battle fields. In a conversation which a friend of mine had with him the other day, he expressed himselfvery anxious to see the present contest brought to a close, and has made up his mind, should he get out of it, to travel through Europe. He has his eye particu larly on England, and is anxious, in the mean time, to make himself acquainted with the cha racter of her public men. A man of his inquir ing and liberal mind could iaot fail to appreciate the superior system of Government and style of manners prevailing in your quarter of the world ; and on his return to his adopted country his great influence would undoubtedly be employed in en deavouring to get Turkey to start on the same career of civilisation. Every day confirms us in the opinion that here the stand against the Rus sians will be made. All the troops along the Danube will be marched up, excepting a portion of the force at Kalafat and Widdin, and the garrisons of Rutschuk and Silistria. These latter places will certainly fall into the hands of the Russians, s hould they attack them ; the former will hold out for three or four weeks at least, and the latter for three months. It is considered that the time that will be thus gained for the concentration of the allied and Turkish forces will be quite ecin t _a' to the sacrifice submitted to. Although toe Russians are good at handling field artillery, yet they are very slow in their besieging operations. In that line they have had very little experience, except in attacking old Turkish towns and fortifi cations, which were not nearly so capable of defence as those of the present day. If Omer Pacha were to follow the counsels and orders of the Govern ment at Constantinople, in all probability the arnaY would soon be annihilated and the country lost; for I am told, upon the best authority, that the instructions of the ministers there were to recover all the posts along the Danube. 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