The Sun. — London, England, 1854-04-17 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, APRIL 17, Will Le performed NOR3IA. Principal characters by Madame Caradori, Madame Sedatzek, and Madame Sondheim ; Signor Pa yesi, Signor Santi, Signor Arnold'. THIIIATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Backstone. THIS EVENING, APRIL 17, Will be performed SPEED THE PLOUGH. Characters by Messrs. Vandenhoff Compton, Rogers. and Chippendale ; Miss E. Chaplin, Miss Louisa Howard, and Mrs. Stanley• After which, an entirely new and original extravaganza, entitled MR. BIICIESTONE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE GLOBE (IN LEI CESTER•SQUARE), written by J. IL Planche, Esq. Principal characters by Mr. Buckstone, Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Clark, Mr. J. Marshall, Mr. H. Marshall ; Mrs. Fitzwliliam, Mrs. Caulfield, Miss E. Grey, Miss Lydia Thompson, Miss Laura Morris, and Miss Featherstone. Fo!lowed by WILLIKIND AND FITS DINAH. Supported by Messrs. Buckstone and Core; Misa Louisa Howard, Mrs. Fltzwll - and Mrs. Caulfield. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CluaLig Kiwi. THIS EVENING, A2alL 17. Will be performed RICHARD THE THIRD. The Principal Character by Mr. C. Kean. To be followed by THE LANCERS ; or, The Gentleman's Son. Principal characters by Messrs. Meadows, Ryder, Everett, H. Mellon, and D. Fisher ; Mrs. Winstamley, Miss Daly. and Miss C. Leclercq. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPITI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Direetress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Aran 17. WM be performed TWO LOVE 3 AND A LIFE. Supported by Messrs. C. Selby, Leigh Murray. BinJambi Webster. Keeley. and 0. Smith ; Miss Woolgar sad Madame Celeste. Followed by THE OVERLAND JOURNEY TO CONSTANTI. NOPLE, AS I7NDERTAKEN BY LORD BATEMAN, WITH LNTERESTING PARTICULARS OF THE FAIR SOPHIA. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING. APRIL 17, Will be performed GIVE A DOG AN ILL NAME. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Mathews and F. Matthews. To be followed by A CHARMING WIDOW. After w hich, NUMBER ONE ROUND THE CORNER. Concluding with A HOUSE OUT OF WINDOWS. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, APRIL 17, Will be performed THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE. To be followed by TO OBLIGE BENSON. Supported by Messrs. Emery, Robson, and Leslie; Mrs. Stirling and Miss Wyndham. To conclude with the Farce of THE WANDERING MINSTREL. Jem Beggs, Mr. F. Robson. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs, THIS EVENING, Ann, 17, Will be performed THE ENCHANTED LAKE. Followed by AN ADVERTISEMENT—" WANT ED ' WIVES AND HUSBANDS." Concluding with a new burlesque on RICHARD THE THIRD. ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. Great attraction and powerful Novelties for the Easter HolidAys. THIS EVENING, Aram 17, And daring the week, a new grand Nautical and Equ e strian spec tacle, embodying novel and extraordinary effects (written by Mr. Nelson Lee), entitled A TALE OF THE SPANISH WAR ; or, The Horse or the Wreck. The horses expressly trained by Mr. v Cooke. Followed by an entire change of the Scenes of the CIRCLE, intro. clueing Miss Kate Cooke, Miss Emily Coeke, Mr. Alfred Cooke, and the most talented Equestrian and Gymnastic Artistes in Europe. Concluding with the new Farce of DALRYMPLE versus TUBBS. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Ting DAY —Xorning 26 mix.after 4 1 I Evening 46 niin.aft. 4 To.slozzow—Morning 7 min.after Evening 3 min Aft. 5 THE WEATHER.—SUN OPYICI, APRIL 16, Etsrza SCNDAY THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 6S—highest since noon yesterday. 41—lowest this morning and during the night. 60—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30'18. WIND, N.E.—Light breeze, with fine, sunshiny wea. APRIL 17. C:l highest since noon yesterday. 44—lowest this morning and during the night. 51—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 30•30. WIND, . _ E —Moderate breeze, and fine weather. Alt r ,n dr ~~~ LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1854. " The fleets are still at Baycos I" It was the announcement made during several weeks, we had almost said during several months, in each suc cessive despatch received from Constantinople. It was the parrot-cry of Our Own Correspondent. It was repeated with " damnable iteration. " It became monotonous. People began at last to be tired of it. It might have been stereotyped. A change has at last been effected in our intel ligence from beyond the Dardanelles. " The fleets are still at Varna !" That is the newly-arranged morsel of information. We sup pose we shall be 'fed upon it like a crumb of comfort for something more than the next fort night. Seriously, are these sorry illustrations of our system of delay to be continued ? Are our sup plies of assistance—" few and far between "—to be denied to the Sublime Porto until after a series of these exquisitely tantalising evidences of doubt, weakness, and procrastination ? Are our troops to be tarrying idly at Malta, while the French contingent from Algeria and Marseilles is being hastened, shipload after shipload, past that island without stopping, di rectly on to Gallipoli, the place of appointed de barkation ? Not a scrap of a letter comes to us from the Fast but contains the same assertion, almost in the same words, reiterated over and over again in terms of urgent entreaty and of most sorrowful lamentation. From Gibraltar it is the same, from Valetta, from the Morea, from Cephalonia, from Constantinople. Every one who has been watching events in the East for some time past in those quarters, is impressed with the firm conviction that both England and France have been too late in rendering military aid to the Turkish army scattered along the borders of Wallachia and Bulgaria. Every one on the spot is satisfied that the Western Allies of the Sultan are at this moment deplorably behind hand in the transmission of soldiers to the seat of war for the effectual protection of his dominions. It is felt generally in those parts that not only are we behind hand in forwarding our warlike aid to OMER PACTRA, but that the troops we have already sent are in their aggregate number altogether inadequate to the present emergency. it is in sisted—and we rest assured not without ample reason—that 25,000 men fromEnglandandso,ooo men from France will be literally but as driblets doled out at a wonderful crisis to the rulers of Turkeyin the hope (save the mark 0 of withstanding the threatened incursion of the combined European and Asiatic hordes which have already begun to pour across the Danube from the frontiers of the vast Russian territory. Is it remembered that England and France in a idi n g Turkey in the struggle with her colos sal antagonist, are opposing themselves to a power that extends over about one - seventh of the habitable globe ? Is it sufficiently b orne in recollection that we are entering upon a contest with a despot having supreme authority over ne arly 70,000,000 souls ? A population, in fact, of 69,660,146 altogether in 1852, having been, in 1846, 66,008,315. A population of 50,000,000 of the Greek Church, of 7,000,000 Catholics, of 3,000,000 Tshud and German Protestants. Against an empire containing thus 70,000,000 inhabitants, we are sending some 25,000 English, and some 50,000 French soldiers ! The inadequacy of these num bers, we rejoi ce t o k now, i s a l re ady beginning to be recognised. There are rumours in Paris of au intention on the part of the EMPEROR not simply to increase the body of troops sent eastwards from Algeria and Ma - medics from 50,000 to 75,000, but to despatch somewhere about 100,000 or 150,000 altogether. England must increase h er m ilit ar y aid proportionately —that is to say, if she seriously purposes to take a part in the struggle worthy of her p o liti ca l importance. An intention about which we may "~'~ ,tZ); if Vci F-3 be allowed to be somewhat reasonably dubious, so long as the Earl of ABERDEEN, still babbling about Peace, Peace, remains at the head of her Britannic MAJESTY' S Government. In taking into account the variety and extent of the Russian population, the manner of its dis tribution is, at this critical junoture, not alto gether unworthy of consideration. If—as is actu ally the case there are amongst the inhabitants of the Russian Empire, as the Baron AUGUSTE DE HAXTHAUSEN has remarked, "more than a hundred peoples, speaking a hundred different idioms"— these various peoples speaking different languages are confined to the number of the subjects of the CZAR scattered along the frontiers of his enormous dominions. Beyond the narrow boundary of those frontiers, within that restricted belt of land crowded by a motley and contrasting population— the whole of the interior of Russia is inhabited by one isolated and homogeneous race, that of the Russians Proper, a race numbering no less than 50,000,000 in the aggregate. Little more than 15,000,000 give the sum total of all the other tribes put to gether. For example-2,000,000 Letts and Li thuanians ; 500,000 Illyrians and Bulgarians ; 6,500,000 Poles; and 12,000,000 Germans, Dacian Romans, Tshads, Tartars, Mongols, Munshus, Greeks, Jews, Gipsies, Caucas sian tribes, Hyperborean races, and Miscel laneous. From 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 of all these differing peoples put together, and, beyond them in the interior of Russia, of Russians Proper from 49,000,000 to 50,000,000 in the aggregate. Everything considered, an awfully kindred population to be directed by the strong arm and the puissant will of the head of an irre sponsible Autocracy ! Against whose ambition, by the way, we are opposing a handful of 25,000 fighting men, allowing even these to dawdle over dinners and reviews at home prior to their de parture, and even then, when they are gone, causing them to loiter about the streets of Valetta, as if there were no necessity whatever for their prompt removal onwards for rather severe work in the Principalities ! Let us hope that before much longer we shall hear no more of these delays of our troops at Malta, or of our fleets casting anchor for several weeks, first at Beycos and then at Varna, and HEAVEN knows where afterwards. Let us cherish, moreover, at least some faint notion of the possibility of a considerably larger number of soldiers being sent out, and that at once, from France and England to their preconcerted rendezvous in the Dardanelles. Otherwise than by some such prompt and energetic measures the Western Allies of Turkey cannot hope to termi nate the war with Russia either speedily or gloriously. " A nurse who was endeavouring to quiet a froward, bawling child, among other attempts threatened to throw it out of doors to the wolf ,f it did not leave off crying. A wolf who chanced to be prowling near the door just at that time hoard the expression, and, believing the woman to be in earnest, waited a long time about the house in expectation of seeing her words made good. But at last the child, wearied with its own importunities, fell asleep ; and the poor wolf was forced to return back to the woods empty and supperless !" Never was an ancient myth more powerfully illustrated than the foregoing on Saturday last. Truthful and instructive as were the tales ascribed to the witty Phrygian, none ever went more directly to the mark than that above ex- tracted. There was the venerable Nurse Times endeavouring to quiet the " froward, bawling child" in the Bank Parlour, to induce it to swal low the dose prescribed by its good grandam, ABERDEEN, in the dear old lady's peaceful seclu sion in Downing-street, and insisted on by the more vigorous and energetic housekeeper who settles the weekly accounts at the Exchequer. The urchin, however, proved rebellious, and threats and reproaches fell from lips previously accustomed to praise and pet. If it did not forth- with cease crying, it should be thrown out of doors to the wolf (the financial reformers) who prowled about the sacred portals. With painful accuracy the many extraordinary favours were enumeratedfor which it was rendering so unworthy a return. It was receiving—naughty brat—no less than 180,0001. per annum for paying the divi dends on the National Debt. It was also " in vested by Government with the exclusive power of issuing bank-notes, which should be a legal tender ; in other words, of creating capital to the amount of some twenty millions annually I" Was not that a nice little sugar plum for the petulant darling ? But that was not all. Those bold children (the private bankers) should not get a particle—all was for the pet of Threadneedle-street, if it would only cease crying and go to sleep when it was bid. "In order to make the privilege more exclusive," says Nurse, " private bankers are restricted from issuing more notes than they did in 1844, and no now private bank is per mitted to issue notes at all." This is, indeed, a snug monopoly ! " There needs no ghost come from the grave " to tell us that " these are no inconsiderable pri vileges," or that the bold child had fallen into very comfortable quarters. It was clearly a foolish as well as an ungrateful brat to quarrel so imprudently with " its bread and butter," or rather the " rich cake," which it should thankfully have accepted, and appropriated with silent satis faction, doing as it was bid in return. But if so very bold and unreasonable, it may find to its cost that it will not escape the punishment it has so richly merited. If it continue " crying" it will be cast out to the wolf, for it is told that " the question of their " (the privileges above referred to) " continuance may come before Parliament next session, seeing that after August, 1855, they may be abolished upon 12 months' notice." If the child be disposed to run out into the woodand brave its dangers, perhaps its indignant granny may suffer it to follow its own foolish vagaries. "The Government, on its part, might possibly be at least equally ready to sever the connexion 1" So the Nurse tells us—aye, and argues power- fu __- so ll p y too to rfu show lly,iud te ee h d, pr t o h p a r t iety of u she might i s gh c a se th well l o i u u r du — ee any the theth w c o r l f e d i h t a,s t hbee been sincerityn taught o a f in eh ex idi pe u r g ie s :iced ßu w t olf salutary lesson. If he was once so si ll y as to be lieve th a t t h e N urse mean t w hat she said, he has beeen convinced of the absurdity of such cre dulity, and though he may in formation afforded by the injudicious revelations of the angry care -taker as to the weakness of the make use of the defences, and the ease with which entrance may be effected, he will trust to his own exertions, and eu not admit carried therienatlio ut s :x ti e o e no io f n. threats never We cannot indeed conceive how any of the "Times-servers" can disregard the arguments put forward by thei r organ. It is true tat we have uttered them for years, but what availed it unless the views, however accurate, could be inspected through Times glasses. Now, however, that the Leviathan is pinned to the point—that it has enunciated that the functions referred to are by no means "peculiar to bankers or improper for Governments"—that it declares that the payment of the dividends " might well be transacted by a public oflice"—that "the power of creating twenty cr thirty millions of money, and employing it for any purpose that may be thought proper," is " an m undoubted prerogative of its tloiewnC7id"s so and e that " the holding in _ teu millions of the public debt" would offer in the possession of a convertible property a means for dispensing with the machinery of balances and deficiency bills"—we may hope for many converts from among the Times-ridden population of the City, and the dabblers in the Money Market. Since the Times has proclaimed its adhesion to the cause of a really national bank and a really national note, we may hope for many THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 17, 1854 recruits, who will willingly enlist under the standard of " monetary reform." We repeat the pertinent interrogatory put forward by our new coadjutor— " Why should Government make a present to any corporation of the profits derived from the issue of twenty or thirty millions of paper money when it would be just as easy to appropriate the sum thus created to its own use, and thus to cancel, by a stroke of the pen, something like a million a year from the charge of the national debt ?" We pause for a reply. We know not, indeed, how any answer can be returned showing that the maintenance of these exclusive privileges are consistent with the interests of the community, or justifying the wanton and heedless waste of a million sterling per annum ! The Times has shown us the impropriety. It has also pointed out that the privileges and monopolies may, after August, 1855, be abolished after twelve months' notice. Let the people then be up and doing, and, without leaving the matter in the hands of GLADSTONE or his organ, take advantage of the valuable admissions that have been made. Let them avail themselves of the potent weapons with which they have been armed, and triumphant success must eventually reward their exertions. MONEY MA RKE T AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE, CITY, QUARTER TO THREE O'CLOCK. There was no cotton market held at Liverpool on Saturday. The steamer, with the Pacific and West India advices, brings about 500,000 dollars in specie. The letters announce a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. for the half-year ending Dec. 31, 1853, as having been declared by the Bank of Jamaica. From most of the islands the accounts of the crops were cheering. At Barbadoes freight on sugar was advanced from 3s. to 3s. 6d. per cent. In British Guiana trade was generally dull. Freights were high. The Russian prizes made in the Baltic by our fleet are supposed to have beeti merchant ships, possibly neutrals, laden with lead, sulphur, and other munitions of war. The following is part of a communication respect ing commercial affairs in the Black Sea : " Galatz, 3cl April. "The master of the Stranger arrived at Ibraila on the Ist April, and reports his vessel is detained by the Rus sian gun-boats, which do not allow him to proceed with out an order from Prince Gortschakoff or General Luders. Letters have been addressed to them on the subject, meanwhile the Russian Consul has given a letter to the commander of the gun-boats to allow the Stranger to pass. Should the order not prove sufficient, the master is recommended to remain by his vessel, and the more formal order will be sent him as soon as ob tained. "Four Dutch vessels with cargoes are detained at the same place." The railway meetings announced are the fol- lowing : Company. Date. Place, &c. Central of Switzerland......... April 27, Basle. Demerara .... . April 28, London Tavern. Eastern of France ......... April 26, Paris. Great India Peninsula......... April 28, 3, New Broad-st. Great Luxembourg Do. Do. London, Brighton, and South April 20, Bridge House Coast. Lyons and Geneva Northern of France Paris, Caen and Che r b olrg A pr il 29 , P aris. Paris and I:yons Southern of France . There is less freight offering for Australia, and a decline has occurred in coal freights to the Mediter ranean. The current rates to Australia are 80s. to 100 s., according to the port. To Alexandria, 30s. is the charge ; to Ancona, 60s. ; Constantinople, 40s. ; Naples, 40s. ; and Calcutta, 50s. These are the rates as given in the General Weekly Shipping List. There has been no particular change in the Stock Market, and the amount of business doing is small, chiefly for Transfer. Consols have been sm to 871 for Money, and 87i / for Account. The New 31 per Cents. have been at 87i to 87L and the 3 per Cents. Mg- to 7;. Bank Stock has been steady at 214. Exchequer Bills have been at par to 4s. premium, and East India Bonds 2s. premium. Foreign securities have been quite neglected. Peruvian Bonds have been steady at 61, and Vene zuela, have been at an advance to 24. Dutch stock and the other Northern bonds have been merely nominal. In the Railwai Share Market the transactions have been very Enited, but prices keep up. The lines principally dealt in are the Caledonian, Lan cashire and Yorkshire, North Western, and Mid land. French shares are nominal, and Belgian rather flat. In the Mining Share Market there is an absence of business. Santiago and Cuba are lower. The Joint Stock Bank Shares are rather firmer, and Australasia have been up to 54. Miscellaneous shares are quiet. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES ( Prom the Official List.) _ Bust nogg done. Bank Stock FoiIEIGN NEWS. per Cent. Reduced Annuities . 86 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities B7i g i. New 3f per Cent. Annuities B 7iii i i India Stock India Bonds, £lOOO ..... ..,....... Ditto, under £lOOO 2 p Bank Stock for Account 215 Consols for Account 18th April B7l B I Exchequer Bills, 2d. £IOOO Small 4 P Par I Z PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Mexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent. 6l Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St 92 Ditto 4i per Cent BOl 80 Venezuela Bonds, 3i per Ceat. 24 Dividends on the above payable in London. THREE O'CLOCK. THE WAR. AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA. Consols 8 74 ; 4 Ditto April Account B7 THE BRAZILS. VIENNA, Sunday, April 16.—The state of siege will be raised in Hungary, the Servian Woywodate, the Banat, Galicia, Cracow, and Bukowina, after the Ist May. This is official. It is rumoured in well-informed quarters that Austria proposes to Prussia to consider the passage of the Danube a caucus belli. The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Severn, Lieutenant P. Hast, R.N., commander, with the usual Brazilian and River Plate mails, in charge of Lieutenant Charlton, R.N., arrived at South ampton yesterday morning at twelve o'clock. The Severn during the voyage homewards ex perienced from Rio Janeiro to St. Vincent, Cape de Verds, strong north-east winds. The news by this arrival is of little importance ; the Stromboli, which arrived at Portsmouth on Friday, having left Rio Janeiro only five days previous to the de parture of the Severn. The Severn brings mails from the following places with their respective dates affixed :—Buenos Ayres 4th March, Monte Video 6th, Rio de Janeiro 17th, Bahia 22d, Pernambuco 25th, St. Vincent 4th April, Teneriffe Bth, Madeira 9th, Lisbon 12th. The Severn landed 120 passengers at Lisbon and 87 at Southampton. The Severn brings specie to the amount of 4,3001. on freight, as also diamonds value 5,4001., 37 bales of cochineal, 519 chests oranges, 50 bar rels tapioca, and 120 packages sundries. The latest dates from Buenos Ayres are to the 4th March. Everything was quiet, and the in habitants seemed confident in the continuance of peace. Exchange was 655. to 655. 6d. per ounce. From Monte Video we have dates to the 7th. In the town and province everything was tranquil. A Brazilian force was expected either to have passed or to pass the frontier soon, as a guarantee of peace and a support to the present Government. Most of the inhabitants, both native and foreign, felt great this step, as tending to create confi securit ydenceto in a greater extent in the present ad ministration of affairs. Exchange, 41 pence to the current dollar. At Pernambuco business of the past month has been far from satisfactory. Of imports, sales have been of a fair character so far as regards articles of daily consumption, which are commanding high prices, but for dry goods the inquiry is very, limited and but few manufactures will command saving rates. But little has been done in exports for European account. Sugars during the month have again advanced about 10 per cent., almost pre cluding operations within the limits of the order held here, and which again has tended to a groat reduction in freights, which are to-day nominal at 55 to 60, and 5 per cent. for sugars to the Channel for orders, and not obtainable. About 70,000/. have been passed in exchange principally at 280., but according to time of payment the rate has ranged from 27hd. to 28d. Great tightness ex ists in our money market, more so than has been experienced for a long period. Such is the scarcity of money that paper of the highest class can scarcely be discounted under 15 to 18 per cent. per annum ; indeed, such is the existing crisis that, the question is to obtain the money rather than consider the rate of discount to be submitted to. This state of our currency market is being seriously felt by every branch of trade, and, unless relief is shortly experienced, w ill materially suspend transactions of every kind. At Rio bu s i ness i n discounts was very limited, and rates u na lt ere d. Exchange flat, at 271 d. Specie ma r k e t d u ll an d fl a t. Her M a j es t y ' s s hi ps a t Li s bon—Feb. 13, Admi ral Corry' s squadron, French steamer of war, and usual Portu guese squa d ron . In Funchal Roads—Feb. 17, her Majesty's ship Saracen. At Tenerifle—Feb. 18, French transport from Isle of France. At St. Vincent.—Feb. 22, United States ship Constitution, 50, and United States sloop Dale, 14. United States sloop Dale sailed at noon. At Bahia. --March 5, her Majesty's ship Trident. At Rio.—March 9, her Majesty's ships Portland, Centaur, Madag ascar , St ar , and Rifleman, 10th, sailed, her Maj es ty' s s hi p P or tland. 12th, arrived and sailed, her Majesty's ship Stromboli ; arrived, Royal Mail steamer Camilla, from River Plate. 14th, sailed, her Majesty's ship Centaur, for Eng land. 15th, sail e d, R o y a l Mail steamer Camilla, for River Plate. 17th, sa iled, her Majesty's ship Star, in tow of R oya l M a il s t eam er Severn. Ships observed or spoken with.—Feb. 12, passed a large steamer, supposed to be the Royal Mail steamer Thames, at 1.54 a.m. ; at 11.30 p.m. passed and exchanged night signals with a large steamer, steering northerly. Feb. 14, passed an English screw -steamer off the Tagus, steering for Lisbon. SEIZURE OF RUSSIAN VESSELS. The Times publishes to-day the following impor tant despatch, dated yesterday (Sunday), from its correspondent at Copenhagen : " The Tribune frigate has just arrived from Ad miral Plumridge's squadron, having taken five Russian prize-s, and a number of prisoners." THE BALTIC. Adespatch from Copenhagen says all the Russian Baltic ports are declared under blockade. A reserve fleet, consisting of the Austerlitz and other ships, is in Kioge Bay. A communication from the Danish capital of the 11th says : Admiral Plumridge has taken the following ves sels with him to reconnoitre, and to cruise in the Baltic :—The Leopard (paddle), and the screw steamers Imperieuse, Arrogant, Amphion, Daunt less, Archer, and the Lightning. The following ships are now in Kioge Bay : The Duke of Wellington, St. Jean d'Acre, Princess Royal, Cressy, Caesar, Hogue, Blenheim, Edin burgh, Ajax, and Royal George (screws) ; the Nep tune, Monarch, and Bosca wen (sailing vessels) ; all of the line. Frigates.—The Dragon, Ocean, Valorous, Magicienne, Driver, and Gorgon (pad dles), the Basilisk, and the Cruiser (screw). In the Great Belt.—The Bulldog (paddle). The Porcu pine (paddle) arrived this morning. The Prince Regent, 90 ; the St. George, 121 ; and the James Watt, 90 (screw), are hourly expected. The Aus terlitz was this morning reported at Elsinore. The fleet has orders to sail this evening, or at latest to morrow morning early, for Bornholm and Goth land. The telegraph has already informed us of the departure of the fleet. A letter written by a French naval officer in the Baltic, received in Paris on Saturday, states that the enthusiasm of the sailors on board the English fleet was excited to the highest pitch by the recol lection of the exploits of Nelson in that sea, and that the Russian ships opposed to them were likely to pass a mauvais quart d'heure. The Moniteur, of Paris, quotes a letter from Stettin of the 13th inst., announcing that the navi gation was open between Swiuemunde and the mouth of the Oder ' and that 19 vessels, l a den with coal and merchandise, had already entered Stettin. A number of others had sailed with cargoes of grain, timber, zinc, &-ro. - A letter frna Hamburg, 11th, in the Indepen dance of Brussels, say s:—" I have already announced to you that the Emperor Nicholas, anticipating that the works erected on the coast of the islands of Aland would not be in a state to resist the attacks of the English fleet, had ordered all the troops which were in the forts to evacuate them promptly, carrying with them all the gnus, military stores, &c. Letters of the 6th brought by the steamer from Stockholm fully confirm this news, adding that the Emperor had also ordered the ilots and all men capable of bearing arms to emigrate to the mainland in Finland, and also to remove all vessels, large and small, boats, &c., to the ports on the mainland, and in case that cannot be done, to sink and destroy them so that not a vestige shall remain. This same system of national defence and voluntary ' destruction has been organised, and will be followed, whatever may be the consequences, throughout the whole extent of the Russian shore, commencing from Helsingfors to Cronstadt, and on the other part to Sebastopol." The subjoined is dated " Off Kioge Bay, Copen hagen, April 10 :—I have just been in Copenhagen, the morning being extremely fine after the stormy night. I made my way into the city, and went to the British Minister's residence, where I found. Sir Charles Napier busily employed in asking ques tions of some officers belonging to the ships em ployed in the transport of water and provisions for the fleet. I afterwards returned on board the Obotrit steamer again, and fell in with sundry officers of the frigates lying at Copenhagen on my way ; they all seemed anxious for work. I pro ceeded to Kioge Bay, and went on board the Duke of Wellington, and was employed for a couple of hours in looking over this splendid ship. On my appearing on board with a bundle of Lon don papers under my arm, I thought the sailors and marines would have eaten me up for distributing among them a portion of my store. A German party, who had come many miles from the interior of Germany to visit the fleet, re turned on board the steamer to Copenhagen, well satisfied with their trip. I returned myself on board a Danish steamer, having 200 persons on board, ladies and gentlemen, and a band of music. On leaving the vessel the band struck up " God save the Queen," which was accompanied by loud cheers from the passengers, and re-echoed by the officers and men on board the Wellington. If I am asked which of the two people was the most enthusiastic in their expression of feeling on the occasion, I may say, without either favour or affec tion, the Germans. On the part of the higher classes of Danes there was an evident symptom of curiosity evinced to view the ship, but on the part of the Germans there was a deep interest in the cause for which the fleet was engaged, in favour of civilisation. On our way back we met the Admiral returning from Copenhagen. From what I heard, he intends moving towards Bornholm within a day or two. The principal pilot belonging to the fleet, a Dane, was desired by the Admiral this morning to proceed to Elsinore to bring the French hne-of battle-ship Austerlitz round to Kioge Bay, where she will probably be to-morrow. The officers of our fleet are awfully fleeced in Copenhagen in the exchange of money, and, again, in what they purchase with it. Four teen days ago I could have purchased a gallon of cherry brandy for about 16s. sterling, and this day an officer was made to pay 325. Other things are.in proportion. In Hamburg or Kiel such a thing would scarcely have been tolerated by the autho rities, and possibly not here, if the matter became known. Gold has become very scarce, and con siderably higher in price, in consequence of the officers being desirous of drawing for their pay." COPENHAGEN, April 9. —The Admiral was at the English church to-day. He afterwards went to the English Minister's. As far as I can learn, he will join the fleet to-day or to-morrow, and sail to the north on Tuesday. The Vulture has gone to the south. The Cresar, 91, is on its way from Vingo Sound. The Auster litz, French liner, 100 guns, is lying iu our roads, and will doubtless make its way through the Great Belt. People in Gothenburg are daily expecting the French fleet and the rest of Admiral Corry's squa dron. As the Baltic is now entirely open, it cannot be long before active operations take place, for every day lost allows our enemy to strengthen his forti fications and discipline his troops. As Aland is evacuated, its occupation can at once take place ; and it will form a station of the utmost import ance for operations in the Gulf of Bothnia and the north of Finland. As it is our own possession, so long as the war lasts we can at once use it, with out asking ourselves what is or what is not " con traband of war." We shall also be able to find excellent pilots and other assistance there. As yet no new Ministry is formed. We shall know in a few hours whether the present Cabinet will take back their portfolios, or whether the men and the system will be changed. THE READING OF THE OFFICIAL DECLA RATION OF WAR, AND HOW IT WAS RE CEIVED BY THE FLEET. We (Plymouth Mail) h ave b een f avoure d w i t h th e followinginteresting extract from a private letter of an officer of the Duke of Wellington to his friends in England :-- "April 4th. At noon to-day the Old Duke looked as if she was dressed for a holiday—she was covered with flags, forming a general signal to the fleet which bad anything but a holiday signification—it was the com mander-in-chief's declaration of war, and it ran, word for word, as follows : " 'Lads ! War is declared, with a bold and numerous enemy to meet. Should they offer us battle, you will know what to do with them. Success depends on the precision and quickness of your fire. Also, lads ! shar pen your cutlasses, and the day is your own.' " The Blenheim, Captain the Hon. F. T. Pelham, immediately answered, Ready and willing ;" the Nep tune, Captai n Smith, Ready'—and every ship manned her rigging and gave three such cheers as are seldor heard in th ose waters. Ourselves an d a ll th e ship's company were then called upon deck, and Commodore Seymour read the signal to us ; and the men were beginning to follow the example of the other ships, when the old ad m i ra l came f orwar d, an d, leaning over the poop railing, said— " Now , my lads You have just beard Iyhat the commodore has said to you, and ad I have to say is, you must be cool and collected—don't throw your shot away. A shot fired in the air or the water is of no use. Make every one of them tell; we have quite a different system now to what we had in the last war. I have no doubt some of you have been in action before, but it will be diffe rent to what you have been accustomed to ; but Admiral Chads showed you the other day that a shell bunting between decks is not so dangerous as you imagine, and if one comes on your deck, you must lie down, and it won't hurt you more than the common splinters of an ordinary action. Should we meet the Russian fleet at sea, as I dare we s h a ll , you we ll know how to dispose of them. We will now man the rigging, and give three cheers for the Queen, God bless her I' " The men rushed to the rigging and gave three times three for the Queen and one cheer more, and three for the commander-in-chief. This was followed by the rest of the fleet, and peal after peal came floating over the waters until the most distant sounded like the echo of the other. Hands were piped down —men under punishment were forgiven, and an extra glass of grog given each man at supper time. The flying squadron of paddle-wheels, under Admiral Plumndge, left us imme diately after for the edge of the ice. They are gone to watch the movements of the enemy, and to look after some ships laden with sulphur and lead, which are in a fix' in the ice. They will be prizes worth taking, if they turn up. " sth. A steamer took Mr. Nugent, R.E., this morn ing to Stockholm, for the purpose of examining some charts and plans. Boscawen, Capt. W. F. Glanville, arrived, but brought no news. Tribute, Amphion, Im perieuse, and Lightning accompany Admiral Chads to the ice." COLONEL TIIO.4IPSON. The Horse Guards have made a tardy step in the way of justice, by placing the author of the Corn-Law Catechism on the list of Colonels, from which ho had been excluded in 1846 by an official manoeuvre. But do they not mean to restore him to his proper place in the list, which is at the head of all the Colonels of 9th Nov., 1846 ; or is it to remain on record that an officer was put at the bottom of the list, and lost eight years' rank and standing, for having, in and out of Parliament, assisted in obtaining Free Trade for the country ? Since they have conceded one point, they have virtually conceded the other. SPORTING NOTES. NOTHING NEW AT NEWMARKET. I have collected but a scanty stock of information since my arrival at _Newmarket on Saturday. Like Mr. Jupe, I have missed my tip, for I have discovered scarcely a secret worth knowing. Here, too, it is in deed " hard times" for the course, although in parts well topped with herbage, is likely to exercise a telling effect on the tender-footed. Still, a large number of horses is in the town—the Northern and Southern stables in particular being numerously re presented by the "long strings" of John Scott and Dockeray. Few visitors have, however, yet arrived, and business at the different inns is anything but brisk ; but the town is crowded with touts, who, as usual, offer their opinions with an obtrusive familiarity peculiarly annoying and offensive. By the way, much dissatisfac tion has been expressed by the suspension of the custo mary "special" from London. They, therefore, who left town this afternoon did not arrive at Newmarket until half-past six o'clock, upwards of fivs hours having been occupied by the journey So great was the dis approbation of the majority of the turfites who mus tered on the platform at Shoreditch on being informed of the discontinuance of the usual accommodation, that they almost to a man resolved to become occupants for the nonce of third-class carriages, their fare for which was six shillings and three halfpence each, whereas they would have willingly paid four times the amount had a special train been provided for them. The success of Virago for the Newmarket Handicap appears to be in the opinion of all persons reduced to a certainty. I had no opportunity of seeing her at exer cise t hie morning, but I met her in company with Diana, proceeding through the town. From the hasty glance which I bestowed upon her, I was, of course, unable to judge correctly of her form, although I at once detected a somewhat suspicious appearance about one of her hocks, which was in part denuded of hair, and seemingly showed traces of a recent curb. This whim, after all, may be founded in error, but should the ground continue hard, her owner himself may, under existing circumstances, doubt the policy of allowing her to start. At present, however, I shall not desert Vi rago's colours, but should the sanguine expectations of her backers he doomed to disappointment, either Poodle or Bracken will, I fancy, achieve success. I shall make a small venture with Adine as a cockboat. Baalbec and Fact are the only animals " fancied" for the Riddlesworth. Of the two I prefer the former. Marble Hill is here in company with Baalbec. He is a large and somewhat well-made animal, and his chance for the Two Thousand is deemed by many shrewd judges not utterly insignificant. The Craven Handicap on Wednesday numbers only sixteen acceptances. Ephesus, Orinoco, and Jack Frost apparently possess the most formidable chances. The Column Stakes will perhaps bring out Prince Arthur, who was among the first—if not the first—of Scott's lot that was backed for the coming Derby. The race will, I anticipate, be principally between him and Bessus. I shall not touch upon the events set down for decision on Thursday and Friday until Wednesday. Dark clouds are gathering fast, not a star is to be seen, and there is every indication of rain. The running ground may yet, therefore, be in a more satisfactory condition than it is at present. A FRESH MAN. Newmarket, Sunday Night. THE GRAIN TRADE. The annexed account of the total suspension of the grain trade of the Danube, consequent upon the recent operations of the Russian army, is from the circular of Messrs. Thomas Booker and Co., dated Galatz, the 27th of March : "The prohibition on the export of all grain took effect on the 19th inst., and has since been peremptorily enforced. Business has consequently been brought to a dead lock, and nothing like accurate quotations can be given, although very low prices would' be accepted for the stocks in store here, consisting of something like 150,000 quarters of wheat and Indian corn. "On the 24th inst. the pontoon bridge was launched, and on that anti the preceding day some 40,000 Russian troops were poured across the Danube into the swampy country of the Dobruilscha,. Simultaneously with this movement, another corps d'aratee of some 35, 1 00 men crossed at Ibrail, one of about 50,000 at Ismail, and a fourth, consisting of about 40,000 men, from different points in Little Wallachia. " Several vessels are yet detained here, owing to their passage being obstructed by the pontoon bridge. Two English vessels and a steamer have been fired into while proceeding down the Danube, and one, the Bedlington, sunk. "Under the existing inauspicious state of affairs we are compelled for a while to withdraw our establishment. It is our present intention, however, at the conclusion of the war (which we presume, sooner or later, must have an end), again to commence operations in Galatz ; feeling sanguine that, although the present military occupation may for a time inflict a severe blow on the prospects of the Principalities, it can only check, not crush, their vast and as yet but partially developed agricultural resources." Her Majesty will give a juvenile ball on the Ist of May, in celebration of Prince Arthur's birthday. The Marquis of Anglesea remains in rather a feeble state of health at Uxbridge House, but, we believe, no immediate danger is apprehended by his Lordship's medical attendants. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll and youthful family have left Carlton-terrace for Clifden House, Becks, where their Graces intend to remain during the holidays. The Duke and Duchess of Wellington, who have arrived in Paris, from a tour in the Italian States, are expected to arrive in Belgrave-street at the end of the week, for the season. The Duke of Newcastle (Colonial and War Minister) returns to Portman-square to-day from a visit to the Queen, at Windsor Castle, where his Grace has been staying since Saturday. The youthful Earl of Lincoln has arrived as the noble Duke's mansion from Oxford University. The Earl and Countess of Cawdor have left South Audley-street, on a visit to Lord and Lady Mary Brackley at Burwood-park. The Earl of Cardigan has arrived in Portman-square from Deene-park, Northamptonshire, where his lordship, we understand, has been staying a few days arranging some private affairs preparatory to leaving England to join the army at the seat of war, with the rank of Bri gadier-General, commanding the Light Brigade of Cavalry. His lordship's regiment, the 11th Prince Albert's Hussars, is expected daily to embark for the East. DEATH OF TIM RIGHT HON. HENRY HOBHOUSE.— This honourable and venerable gentleman died at Hadspen-house, Somerset, on Thursday, in his 78th year. He was nephew of the late Sir Benjamin Hob house, and cousin to Lord Broughton. He was Under- Secretary of the Home Department froth 1817 to 1827, and by his death a pension of 1,0001. per annum reverts to the Treasury. PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS.—On Saturday a return was printed by order of Parliament, showing the increase and diminution which had taken place last year in the public departme n t s . T he increase in the number of persons was 1,478, and the total sum 105,672/. 7s. 7d. The di minution was in number 236, and in amount 48,0131. 13.. 6d. ROYAL PANOPTICON, LEICESTER-SQUARE.— This inter esting exhibition is making progress in popularity. We regret to hea r th at M r. E. M. Clarke, managing director, has suffered s o severely of late from' ill-health, mainly induced by his official labours, that he has been compel led to tender his resignation of that office. THE WEATHER IN THE BALTIC. Subjoined are the latest advises relative to the state of the navigation in the Baltic : BOLDERAA, April 6. During the last week the wea ther has been almost constantly warm, but the gulf is still filled with large masses of ice, by which the navi gation is rendered very dangerous. In the channel, as well as at the mouth of the river, the ice is still fast. Of the vessels which have arrived during the last week, nine have been cut in to the winter harbour, two are in the roadstead, and thirteen off, but cannot get in on account of the ice. Wind W.S.W., temperature 6 deg. warmth. The gale at W. of last night has again driven the ice from sea towards the shore, and as the roads and sea-channel are com pletely covered therewith no communication can be had from land with the vessels that have arrived off. They are lying rather a considerable distance off the roads in the ice, and the geeater part of them fast therein. PILLA.I7, April 10.—On the sth April the rivers be came navigable, and shipping has commenced. On the bar there are 15i feet water. DANZIG, April 11.—The weather is getting better. ST. PETERSBURG. According to the Austrian Lloyds, the recent military measures of Russia, as regards discharged soldiers, will procure her a reserve of 150,000 men. These men are to be formed into corps for garrison service. As to the demi-invalids who have also been called on to serve, they are, it is said, to be sent to the theatre of war principally to occupy fortresses. The Czar was about to consent to the organisation of free corps in the different pro vinces ; the war department had drawn up a plan on the subject. The Abeitle du Nord of St. Petersburg publishes the following notice, addressed to the merchants : " The Department of Foreign Commerce announces that orders have been given to the frontier custom houses of Polangen, of Tanroggen, and of Jourbourg 1. To receive, in order to be fin.warded to the custom houses of St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Riga, all the merchandise which may be declared at the custom houses of these latter towns, even if their entry by those frontier custom-houses should not be authorised by the tariff. 2. In order to ace-Aerate the expedition by land of foreign merchandise destined for the custom-houses of the ports of the Baltic, and for Moscow, there will only be placed on these packages exterior lead (deb plumbs extgrieurs ), without submitting them to a second pack ing, which is prescribed by the rules of the custom-house for articles of merchandise not visited at the frontier." Tile nomination of General Rakazowsky, the governor of Finland as dictator in the duchy, has excited universal alarm. Immense purchases are being male for the troops, but the unfortunate sellers are paid in quittances, that is, in worthless assignats. At all the village inns, from St. Pe tersburg to.Bjorneborg, there are troops of horses and vehicles for the transport of soldiery. Pur chases are being made at Uleaborg for the forces expected there. _ _ The Czar has addressed an autograph letter to Rakazowsky, the governor of Finland, full of com pliment for the excellent reception given him by the Finnish people—under strict orders from the police !—on his late visit. Lieutenant-General Nordenstam is to command the staffs of the troops in Finland. The whole line of road from St. Petersburg to Helsingfors is black with every kind of vehicle transporting an 'endless military materiel. Can non, estafettes, hay-waggons, powder-tumbrils, &c., pass each other perpetually. The first Rus sian regiment which marched from St. Petersburg on its way to Finland was the King of Prussia's grenadier regiment. What a happy coincidence ! A plan is under consideration in St. Petersburg fur compelling the whole population in Finland to remove into the interior of Russia. If this were even attempted, it would surpass anythi ng i n mo dern history for diabolical cruelty. Most likely the Emperor will content himself with flinging large masses of troops into the unfortunate duchy. At this moment 15,000 men are in biamley Karleby, 14,000 in Nykarleby, 25,000 in and near Vasa, and so on. Everything is enormously dear. THE DANUBE. Letters from Bucharest of the Bth inst., to some extent, explain the previous default of news from the Russian side of the Danube since the entrance of the Czar's troops into the Dobrudscha. The difficulties of the Russian commander appear only to have begun with the passage of the Danube. In the letters just mentioned we read that the troops are limited to slow and weary movements, through the want of roads and the marshy nature of the ground. Moreover, they cannot advance without dragging with them provisions and stores of all kinds, so that forced marches are altogether out of the question. To the 7th inst. Mustapha Pacha was master of Tschernawoda and Kustendjee to the north of Trajan's Wall, and stood with his main force of 50,000 at Karassa, on the south side of that defence, and about midway between the Danube and the Black Sea. Omer Pacha had been with him, and a division of the fleets were supporting his right wing. The Russians had appeared before bothTschernawoda and Kustendjee, but in very small force, scarcely more than with patrols of Cossacks. No anxiety was felt at Varna, where on the 28th a brigade of Turkish soldiers, about 8,000 strong, had been landed. Between Rassova and Silistria several smart encounters had taken place between detach ments of the hostile armies, the Russians making repeated reconnaissances, but not attempting any serious movement. It was believed that Omer Pacha would not attack the Russians before the ar rival of the auxiliaries somewhere in his rear. Mercantile letters from Bucharest of the 4th inst. mention that the Russians made on the 2d a recon naissance in the direction of Berlik, and marched from there along the road down the river side to wards the entrenchments close to Rassova. Vigor ously attacked by the Turks, they retreated to Ber lik, fighting all the way, and from there back to the further bank of the river. The Russian column was about 600 strong, and was supported by two gun boats, The Wanderer of Vienna states that up to the 6th the Russians had made no offensive movement near Trajan's Wall, and that Omer Pacha, with au army of 80,000 men, was preparing to attack General Luders. The declaration of war made by England and France was published on the 6th in the Turkish camp at Kalafat. After a salute of 100 cannon and shots had been fired from the raannarts the troops marched out in battalions, and fired each three volleys of musketry, the military band filling up the intervals with martial airs. Advices from Bucharest affirm that the war de claration of France and England had produced an immense sensation there, and that, in conse quence of this event, Baron Budberg, the Russian governor of the Danubian provinces, has giv en notice to all persons connected with the diplo matic agencies of the Western Powers to quit the territory of the Principalities within eight days. A letter from Shumla, of March 27 says- " For the last three or four days a vague kind • feeling had prevailed throughout the country that f something had happened on the lin e o f the Danube. One day the rumour was that Kalafat had been taken, and the Turks driven into the rive r , th e bridge between the island and that had crossed a t return e of rdPaylacethebeimngatdteer stroyed ; another, that the Russians Rustchuk or Silistria ; but intelligencetuy this was place,finall with settled h o b by certainth e reaorf th Pa e R sha u t s o . sians having crossed the Lower Danube, on the 23d, at Matschin, opposite Braila, about 10 days' march from this. This force issupposed to be the.sth, Gene ral Luders' corps. Various conjectur es h ave been formed as to th e num b ers but the most that have already crossed, probable estimate is about 15,000 men. If this b e correct, i) I cannot imagine that the present movement can to ind uce Omer Pasha morebe to concentrate than a a demonstra tioniargo. Portion of his forces l in the Dobrudscha, and that the grand coup garrisons wil be made on the centre of the Turkish line, weakened by the withdrawal of men from the rrisons of Rustchuk, Silistria, Tur tukai' and other posts on t hi s s ide of the Danube. Be thi s as it may, the greatest excitement pre vails here at present. Most of the shops are closed, tleir owners, in common with every available man in Shumla, being engaged on the works, uwer the personal superintendence of Omer Pasha and an officer of the Etat-Major specially sent here by the French Government. The feeling of the Turks towards their French and Eng lish allies is most chivalrous, and the knowledge that they are to be well supported has inspired them with fresh courage and enthusiasm. They say that now is the time for us to fight and save the shed ding of our friends' blood.' The Bashi-Bazouks cannot, I am afraid, be included in this category ; as troops they are perfectly useless ; in fact, they are mere marauders and pillagers, whose services could not be declined, but whose absence would be most desirable. The English and French fleets axe in Kavarna Bay, and strong hopes are entertained that they precede the speedy arrival of the allied troops at Varna, which is three days' march from Shumla." Another letter from Shumla, of March 29, is as follows :—" I send you two words in a hurry, by a special courier that is just starting. I have no further particulars about the passage of the Russians at Galatz. It is believed that another passage will take place higher up the river very soon. If that occurs, it is to be presumed that the Russians who have crossed at Galatz are not in very great force. Omer Pacha is making very good arrangements— as good as the circumstances permit, and which he had foreseen and calculated. For the present, the Ottoman forces in the Dobrudscha ars. concen trated on the river Carassu. You shall hear from me as soon as anything of importance occurs." THE BLACK SEA. ODESSA, April B.—The combined fleets blockade Odessa. A private despatch statas that Odessa was taken on the 14th, but this is doubtful. On the 27th ult., the Sidon, Firebrand, and Magellan were despatched from the fleet to ascer tain if any attempts were being made by the Rus sians to throw in supplies to their troops, now that they have crossed the Danube, and have orders to bring in any Russian vessels they may find so en gaged, or within Turkish waters. On the 28th the French fleet shifted berth further towards Baits chik, and were followed by the British fleet on the 29th, to be more handy for rendering any assisi V ance, in case of need, to the Turks, should these be driven into a retreat. There is reason to believe that the larger divisiom of the fleet, which was telegraphed as having gone to Sebastopol, went to Odessa. In a letter from the latter port, of the Ist inst., we read :—" We are here in a state of great excitement. Forseveral days past we have seen many French and English-, sails. They probably intend blockading us, for they don't leave the spot, keeping always in sight. Large masses of troops are being con— centrated here ; our garrison is at this moment, 20,000 strong, and fresh men arrive every day from Bessarabia. By all this it is quite clear that our place is not going to be evacuated but defended. We have made up our minds here for the woest, and several families have already retired further inland. The forts are all armed, and tents are pitched for the troops in the outskirts of the town. Our trade is at an end, and prices are getting ruin ously high. The English consul-general was yes terday still here." In another passage the writer gives a good rea son why Od essa s h ou ld b e b lockaded by the allies : —"All the Russian troops in the Dobrudscha, which may possibly amount to about 55,000 men with 120 guns, must be entirely victualled from this place, for the Dobrudscha, as far as fertility is concerned, may be not inaptly compared with a Pussta (waste) in Hungary. They say Tultsha and Isaktshi are both razed, but Matschin kept as it is, and Hirsova made an hospital of. They do not believe here that the army will push on to Silistria, but they do that Rassova will be taken, and that Trajan's Wall must be gained to secure the new acquisitions made by the army." VARNA, March 30.--I have just stepped on shore from the Tiger, her Majesty's steam-ship, which left Constantinople two days ago. The fleets are lying in Kavarna Bay. Some of the steam ships have been sent on to the mouth of the Danube to stop any Russian ships of war, trans ports, or merchantmen, that may make their ap pearance there. Admirals Dundas and Hamelin have not waited for a declaration of war from the allied Powers, but have considered the attitude of the Russians sufficiently hostile to justify them in proceeding to extremities at once. 30,000 of the enemy have crossed the Danube, and occupy three different positions. Omer Pacha has not attacked them. He writes in very bad humour— an unusual trait in his - correspondence. The great affair of the day at Constantinople is the departure of the Greeks. Count Metaxa, the Minister, leaves to-day by the Austrian Lloyd steamer. The Greeks are put under the protection of Belgium for, the 15 days' term allowed them for departure. THE GERMAN POWERS. The Prussian Correspondence of the 12th says : —" Several journals have within the last few days stated that the convention which had been agreed to between Prussia and Austria had been refused at Vienna. Such is not the cas2, for the reply of the Austrian Cabinet has not yet arrived. If the reply should be that some changes were desired, it may be admitted, without fear of being mistaken, that the modifications will not be important, and will not disturb the accord which exists, and that, on the contrary, the arrangement will shortly take place in the most satisfactory manner. The Cologne Gazette, on the same subject, says : —" A part of the press does not make a sufficient distinction between the protocol of Vienna and the Austro-Prussian convention. The protocol has for the moment more importance than the convention, as it states that neither of the contracting powers can enter into negotiations with Russia on the principal points in dispute without previously con sulting the others ; by this the position of Prussia has been fixed, and the convention can only deter mine at what moment the two German Powers are to act. By the protocol Prussia has taken the step which was desired without absolutely binding her self to Austria." In the Corrierre Italian° of Vienna, of the 11th, we read :—" It is asserted, in well-informed circles, that the negotiations pending between Prussia and Austria are closed, and that the treaty will be notified before Easter. All the States of the Germanic Con federation approve of the position assumed by Prussia and Austria. The signature of the protocol is a new step taken by the Western Powers. It still depends on Russia to allow Prussia and Austria to interfere as mediating powers in the Eastern question or to force these two powers to quit their state of neu trality iu order to maintain the peace of the world. The war which Russia is waging at present is only a war of self-love, which cannot procure her any real advantage. In consequence we are delighted at the position assumed by Austria, not that we desire to see her engage in a war with Russia, but because we hope that at St. Petersburg reflection may intervene before matters are carried to ex tremities, and before inevitable calamities are poured down on Russia in case the Czar should not fear to provoke a war with all Europe." The following is from th• Correspondance or Berlin :—" On the occasion of the treaty of alFz ance offensive and defensive, Prussia has made a last effort in favour of Russia. In fact the nego tiations of the treaty being terminated, Prussia, de manded that the conditions under which it won't(' be permitted to Austria to take an active part in th.e war against Russia should be defined in a precise manner. This was evidently done in the interest of Russia, and Baron de Hess only yielded on the point in re serving it for the ratification of his Government. When on the side of Prussia an obligatory clause was proposed by which the two German powers would engage to guarantee the integrity of the Ottoman Porte but • also the integrity of Russia, Baron de Hess declared that sucha clause would be rejected at Vienna, which has actually been thr case, for Colonel Ruff has arrived here with a nega tive reply. Austria, as we are informed, explained this rejection by declaring that the chances of war, when once commenced could not be foreseen, and that it would be absurd to wish to tie the hands by obligations taken beforehand, and the more so as the advance of the Russian troops into Turkey proves that Russia will not respect the integrity of the Turkish territory. Accounts have been re ceived here of the concentration of troops on the Russo Polish frontier, from which it would appear that Russia wished to be prepared for any eventua lity. Count d'Arnim, the Prussian Ambassador at Vienna, is expected hero in order to receive instruc tions relative to the pending negotiations." The Lloyds of Vienna states that the letter, tile Emp eror F rancis Joseph to recently the addressed by Emperor Nap o l eon 111., is a reply to one of the latter, which had b een presented by M. de Bourqueney, French A m b assador at Vienna. The letter of extreme the Austrian E mperor is, it is added, of an ly friendly character. The Cologne Gazette, under date of Berlin, 12th, says :—" It is stat e d t h at the Prince of Prussiai will go to Vienna to be present at the marriage of the Emperor. His Royal Highness the day before yesterday attended the military manoeuvres, atr3 - afterwards received General de Lindheim, who L: v. a just returned from St. Petersburg." On the 11th, the tuagistracy of Berlin sent in to the Prince of Prussia an address of congratulati, ) 11 on his birth-day. The Prince returned the folio w ing reply : rej"The sentimenta Which I find in your address ha vs oiced m e , and l exp ress my sincere thanks for the 9e proofs of attachment. May I still further be successfi x 1 by counsel and deed in cementing ever more and mor firmly that confidence between King and people whicli has so powerfully contributed to raise up anew, wit) fresh greatness and strength, our native country froi 3' amidO the storms of the times. UO4 we slail !!".Icleed fatherlan The fi of artie] Rarribui "In cc Turkey, a nd Russ for the pi gatio n of eaactmen "1. I the Powi hibited. "2. A ba oee fi but full] rockets, used hod lead. followed 0! War, % km, or Nith seve "Deer the 10th "In 01 betwe en e euncil ( make the With th e " The V ar, or s n ations as th e x 0 saltpetr e , 44 c1 also s 4 tiel es as from the ti nder the th e State 1 1 : e r i r a . 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