The Sun. — London, England, 1854-04-22 00:00:00

SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. On IVEDNERDAY, the 26th inst., the DAY of HUMILIA TION, the Trains on this line will RUN AS ON SUNDAY, with the addition of the 7 o'clock a.m. down train to Southampton, and the 7.10_p.m. train from Southampton. Return Tioketa issued on order 25th inst. will be available till the *7th inst. By , ARCED. SCOTT, Traffic Manager. Witterloo Station, 22d April, 1654. THEATRE ROYAL DRITRY LANE. Lesties, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, Iran, 21, Will be performed NORMA. Principal characters by Madame enradori, Madame Sedatzek, and Madame Sondbeina ; aignor Pa• ♦est, Signor Sant!, and Signor Arnold!. Followed by a BILLET DIVERTISSEMENT. Coadnotor, Herr Lindpaintner ; Regissear, Herr Formes. Stalls, 7s; Dress Circle, 5s ; Boxes, 38 • P. 2.9 i Gallery, Is. Private Boxes, One, Two, and Three Guineas, may be had, and places secured, at the Box-office daily from Ten to Sly; and of all sinairaellers and librarians. THE A.TRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Backstone. THIS EVENING, Amu, 22, Wlll be performed MARRIED LIFE. Mr. Henry Dove, Mr. Bilckstone i Mrs. Henry Dove, Mrs. Stanley. Idler which. the entirely new and original extravaganza, entitled 31R. BVCIISTONE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE GLOBE (IN LEI IXESTE2t-SQUARE), written by J. R. Planche, Esq. ncipal characters by Mr. Buckstone, Mr. W. Farrell, Mr. Clark, Mr. J. Marshall, Mr. H. Marshall ; Mrs. Fltzwilliam, Idrs. Caulfield, Miss Grey, Miss Lydia Thompson, MIS! Laura Mo rris. and Miss irsatkerstone. To concinds with THE PORTRAIT OF CERVANTIVi• rrlh vipal characters by Mr. Compton and Miss E. Grey. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CnaaLas Rime. THIS EVENING, APRIL 22, Will be performed THE MARRIED UNMARRIED. Character' tff Mesars. W. Lacy. Ryder, and Cathcart; and Misses Heath and Murray. Followcxl by FAUST AND MARGUERITE . haracters by .Lessrg. C. Kean and David Fishe r ; Mrs. Winstanle C y and Miss C. I.eciereq. After which, AWAY WITS MELANCHOLY. Characters by Messrs. Meadows, D. Fisher, and Baker ; and Misses Murray and Daly. VIEATHE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor. Mr. B. , Webster.—Directress, Madame Celege, TILTS EVENING, APRIL 22, Will be performed TWO LOYE4 AND A LIFE. Supported by Selb y, Leigh Murray, Benjamin Webster, Keeley, and O. health ; Miss Woolgar and Madame Celeste. Followed by THE OVERL kND JOURNEY TO CONSTANTI NOPLE, A 3 UNDERTAKEN BY LORD BATEMAN, WITH INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF TILE FAIR SOPHIA. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestria. THIS EVENING, Aram 22, win be performed A CHARMING WIDOW. Principal charac ters by Mr. C. Mathews; Miss Talbot and Miss Oliver. To be followed by GIVE A DOG AN ILL NAME. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Mathews and F. Matthews. Attar which, NUMBER ONE ROUND THE CORNER. Concluding with A HOUSE OUT OF WINDOWS. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, Arm 22. Will be Performed THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE. Cha racters by Messrs. F. Robson ' J. H. White, Lesl ie, and Vincent ; Mrs. Chatterley, Mi ss P. H orton , and Miss Marston. To be followed by TO OBLIGE BENSON. S a pp orted by Messrs. Emery, Robson, and Leslie; Mrs. Stirling and Miss Wyndham. To coneude with the Farce of TUE WANDERING MINSTREL. (Tern Bans. Mr. F. Robson. STIZA.ND TELEATRE. Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Mlss Rebecca Isaacs THIS EVENING, APRIL 22, Wlll be performed THE ENCHANTED LAKE. Followed by AN ADVERTISEMENT—" WANTED, WIVE 3 AND HUSBANDS." Concluding with a new burlesque on RICHARD THE THIRD. stalls, 5a.; Hazes, 3g.; Pit, lg. 6d; Gallery, Gd. ; Private Boxes, £1 1 ls. 6(1., to be had of Mr. Alicroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLErS EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. Great attraction and powerful Novelties for the Easter Holidays. THIS EVENING, APRIL 22, • Will be presented the new grand Nautical and Equestrian spec. tacle, embodying novel awl extraordinary effects (written by Mr. Nelson Lee), entitled A TALE Of"flIE SPANISH WAR ; or, The Horse of the Wreck. The horses expressly trained by Mr. W. Cooke. Followed by an entire change of the Scenes of the CIRCLE, intro ducing Miss Kate Cooke, Miss Emily Cooke, Mr. Ifrei Cooke, and the most talented Equestrian att.). Gymnastic Artistes in Europe. Concluding with the new Farce of DALRYMPLE versus TUBBS . Box-office open frost Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TIM DAT —Yarning 50 raln.after 9 Evening 35 mln.aft. 10 Tc•][ossow—Morning 16 min.after 11 I Evening 48 min.aft. 11 THE WEATHER.--Sus Onics, Ann. 22. THZENOMETZH, IN THE SHADE. 67—highest since noon yesterday. 52—lowest this morning and during the night. 52—this day at noon. BABOWITHE, down to 29'48—Row 29.51. WIND, N.E.—Rather fresh breeze, with dull, cold, misty springling of rain. u Aeq7 c ,,,704A . c§nn, LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1854. Several important events have within the last few hours come to our knowledge in this country simultaneously—events, some of them, illustrating more clearly than ever the necessity for prompti tude in the conduct of the warlike operations against Russia, on the part of the French and English Governm . ents. A succession of glorious victories, we learn by our latest advices from the seat of war, on the banks of the Danube, has again been won by the valiant ,troops under the banners of the Turkish Commander-in-Chief. An argument surely in favour of despatch in the movement of the allied soldiers of England and France towards the scene of action in the Principa lities. Not a shot has as yet been fired by these latter, while their brothers in arms, under orders of OMER, PAcRA, have had to fight during several months single-handed, as it were, against the enormous forces poured down upon them from the interior of the Russian EMPEROR'S dominions. The "sick man," it would seem, has during that critical interval rallied somewhat under the vio- lent doses administered to him by his self-consti• tilted physician. Rallied so remarkably, indeed, that he has contrived up to this time to be just about one too many for his lawless and desperate assailant. Turkey fighting thus valiantly against immense odds —what part has been taken all this while in the struggle by France and England ? What past ? Why hitherto, literally and positively only that of very noisy preparation. Hitherto the world has heard enough of what the Western Powers are going to do—but up to this moment those Powers have virtually and. actually done nothing. They have not stricken one blow with the sword or made one thrust with the bayonet. They have riot taken one stronghold, defended a solitary pass, or routed a single rsiment. They have with admirable credit to iinemselves run the gauntlet of a long series of banquets, reviews, and ovations--bat in spite of all these wonderful doings they have not, even now, caught the first glimpse of their antagonists, the Muscovite troops uider Prince 40.1iTZCIIAKOFF. Happily, however, we may still console our selves by glancing over the record of their con tinued movement. Their movement--whither? Towards the frontiers of the Turkish territory! If OMEI PACHA and his brave Turks are still left to struggle unaided with the vastly superior forces, numerically speaking, of the Muscovites, it must be exceedingly gratifying to learn that by April, 1864, as many as 1,500 of the soldiers of Eno , - land had landed at Gallipoli, in the Dardanelles. • Fifteen hundred men ! to be conducted after a long and arduous march across Turkey to swell the ranks of the gallant band of the warriors of the SULTAN, contending with the barbarian hordes directed against them by the despotic ruler of 70,000,00 Q of souls—the vast a ggregate of the Russian population ! Further encouragement is given to the people of Western Europe, by the announcement of the fact that, the French fleet has taken its departure from Brest for th© Gulf of Finland. Everything, indeed, still continues to indicate a movement towards—not an arrival at, hut a movement towards—the seat of war along the coast here of the Euxine, and there of the Baltic, a movement towards those coasts on the part of the allied armaments. Scarcely anything, indeed, has been left to be done in the way, we will acknowledge that, of warlike preparation. But everything, literally everything, remains to be done in the way of actual achievement. For as yet England and France have done absolutely nothing in point of fact—they have hitherto contented themselves with sketching out upon a tolerably large scale all they purpose effecting by land and by sea, towards the accomplishment of the projected triumph of civilisation. The Dobrudscha has to be reclaimed from the possession of the invading Muscovites. The enemy has to be driven back across the Danube—out of Wallachia—out of Moldavia —beyond the channel of the Pruth, the boundary of Bessarabia. Varna has to be defended--Sinope has to be avenged— Odessa has to be captured —Sebastopol has to be stripped of all its formidable array of batteries— the Crimea has to be wrested from the grasp of its present possessor—the Black Sea has to be opened to the navigation of the vessels of both hemispheres—the barrier of treaties has to be broken down for ever both at the mouth of the Bosphorus and at the mouth of the Darda nelles --the mouths of the Danube have to be opened, and that permanently—Roumelia h a s to be defended by a line stronger than that of the Balkan mountains—by that fur nished by the solid guarantee of the great Powers of Christendom. A n d i n thi s manner have to be secured—the peace of Europe—the independence of Turkey—the safety of Constan tinople. Tolerably well all this as the programme of oitr warlike achievements ! Especially when we re member the astonishing number of our troops — about fifteen hundred men—as yet landed on one of the extreme points of the Turkish territory. Fortunately for the fair fame of France and England if their military armaments are rather backward and altogether inadequate in re gard to numbers, remembering the mag nitude of the emergency—their navies, both in the North Sea and in the Black Sea, are everything that could be reasonably desired. Upon them, especially, our hopes are concen trated. Upon the Euxine Fleet, under Dtninas and HAMELIN, and the Baltic Fleet'under NAPIER and DESCHENES. Particularly, at this juncture, are the hopes of France and England directed towards the formidable array under the orders of the heroic sea captains last mentioned. Every reli ance is placed in their capacity. Every confidence is reposed in their skill and daring. English men and Frenchmen are hence looking forward hopefully for " news of battle" from Riga, and from Revel, and from Helsingfors, and from Kronstadt. The seizure of Aland is felt to be but as a step in advance on the road towards the humbling of the pride of St. Petersburg. After the policy pursued during so long a period by the CZAR, the Western allies of Turkey can have no compunction in opposing his despotism to the very uttermost. If anything had been needed to dissipate the last shadowy dream of a recon ciliation betweenßussia and the arch-champions at once of Turkey and of Civilisation—it would I assuredly have been found in the comment made by the CZAR'S official organ on the 12th of April, on the confidential correspondence, and in the yet more curious document which appeared in the next day's publication of the same journal, the Journal of St. Petersburg—the Russian EMPEROR'S shameless and flagitious " Declaration." That State paper issued in his name crowns the whole of his inde fensible proceedings. It is the last signal for a war d l'outrance between the Northern Power representing all the might of barbarism, and the two most civilised races of Christendom. "A plague o' both the houses !" That many headed Mercutio, the community at large, may wall anathematise the contending parties, to whose proceedings such fatal results may directly be ascribed. To their quarrels we owe the tight ness in the money market, the results whereof are discernible in the high rate of interest, and the difficulty of obtaining the requisite monetary facilities, even at the most exorbitant and usurious charges. To these disputes may also be attributed the great depreciation in the prices of the public funds, and all other descriptions of securities, public or private. We may indeed declare that an amount of injury has already been occasioned which it will be diffi cult, if not impossible, to retrieve. To mar the financial operation attempted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Bank increased its rate of discount. So well was this altera tion timed—the announcement being made the day previous to the last for receiving assents—that it completely uprooted the foundation on which Mr. GLADSTONE fondly hoped to construct a pre-eminent financialreputation. The right hon. gentleman was not disposed to bear his defeat meekly. So, in place of issuing the Stock which was to. have been given in Exchange, or making terms for a new loan to the amount of that which he was paying off, he satisfied the claims of the dissentients to the amount of EIGHT MILLIONS STERLING OUt of the Exchequer balances, reducing the Government account to a scandalously low figure, and render ing the maintenance of public credit dependent on a system of " kiting," which would be justly re probated if the pecuniary affairs of the nation should ever come to be investigated in Basinghall street, or Portugal-street. The effect of this adverse move on the Bank authorities would have been perfectly ridiculous, if it were not so exceedingly prejudicial to the trade and commerce of the country. The " Old Lady" who had chuckled so audibly at her temporary triumph became per fectly hysterical at the severe retribution. In place of having five or six millions of Government money to deal with as she thought proper, she had to advance some two or three millions to the Government at a reduced rate of interest, and with out receiving the slightest thanks for the accommo dation—nay, being even soundly rated for darino , even to remonstrate at what was practically neither more nor less than a " forced loan," the force however being moral in place of physical, the de mand not being exactly " your money or your life," as uttered by the heroes of the highways, but rather the gentle persuasion of the disciples of "SWING"—" Your money, or we fire your pre mises and destroy your property." " Refuse to honour my cheques"—says the Financial Minister --:"and you not only destroy the value of your own Securities, but mayalso depend on having the lucra tive monopoly you have so long enjoyed broken up. You shall no longer have the management of the public debt—no longer bo allowed to issue notes. Stringent as are the restrictions on banking at this moment, I shall make them ten times more onerous. Submit, therefore, to any terms that I may think proper to dictate, how ever exacting, and do so cheerfully, without even a murmur, or dread the consequences !" This is all that the public know of the quarrel, save through the significant hints given by the Le viathan in articles bearing unequivocal evidence of their official origin, redolent of Downing-street in e very part, and bullying the unfortunate Directors in terms only suitable to a perfectly despotic au thority, such as a Turkish Cadi or a Harrow Monitor. Whether the directors will at once suc cumb, and take their " whopping" with submis sive humility, apologising for the slight hesitation, remains to be seen. That will be known in good time, and we patiently await the result, convinced that aiy alteration must be beneficial, for nothing can be worse than the doubt and uncertainty that has so long prevailed. What has hitherto arisen may bo briefly explained. Mr. GLADSTONE has not merely selected the eve of a perilous and expen sive conflict for paying off no less than EIGHT MILLIONS STERLING, just as we are bound to provide for the expenses of war establishments ; but he has crippled the revenues of the Bank at a wlni t e i ic ra ciho e u ; a h s en there is a ra pid an d steadily-increas ing drain of bulli on f rom our s h ores—a d ra i n metal s al in the readydimvainuilstlsieodf thet the value by ueofmtohree s" y, crippled the MILLIONSrso itL ur s c T e E sof lEN th G e than EIGHT BaHnek,haans,dasNe taken V a like amount of EIGHT MILLIONS STERLING from the funds which it had for the accommodation of the trade and commerce of the country. This is obviously the case, for if, in place of there being Government balances, to the amount of six mil lions, the Bank is obliged to advance two millions to the Exchequer, it is obvious that the aggregate of these sums, or eight millions, is no longer avail able for the use of the mercantile community. There is thus 8,000,0001. of debt paid off and cancelled, 8,000,0001. of gold exported from the country, and therefore 8,000,0001. of Dotes neces sarily cancelled and withdrawn from circulation, and 8,000,0001. less available for the discount of commercial paper and maintaining the credit of the bees in the great hive—the creators and pro ducers of national wealth. Well, then, may the dispute that has produced such results be depre cated. We bear the evil, however, inn the hope that it may eventually lead to the abolition of the iniquitous Act of 1844, the repeal whereof would amply compensate for all the nation has suffered, is suffering, or may hereafter suffer, unless the strings be drawn very tightly indeed. The Right Hon. Gentleman has, in one respect, yielded, not to the remonstrances of the Directors, but to the demand of the mercantile community. He has just issued a notification that he is ready to receive tenders for Exchequer Bills of the nominal value of SIX MILLIONS STERLING, of which Two Millions will be redeemable at par on the Bth of May, 1858 ; TWO MILLIONS on similar terms on the Bth of May, 1859, and Two MIL LIONS on the Bth of May, 1860. All these bills will bear interest during the interim, at the rate of 3 per cent. per, annum, and the amount sub scribed for will be received in certain specified in stalments, spread over a period of nearly six months, the last instalment being payable on the 17th October next. Now the first matter worthy of particular notice in the foregoing, is that, notwithstanding the rapid departure of bullion, which for the week ending the 15th instant, amounted to no less than 629,7261., he still persists in cancelling a portion of the debt exceeding TW MILLIONS sterling. He has paid off more than EIGHT MIL LIONS. To replace it he borrows only SIX MILLIONS. Two MILLIONS are, therefore, abso lutely cancelled at the expense of the present generation—in addition to having to bear the entire burden of the war expenditure. But this is not all. The entire six MILLIONS are to be paid off within six years. Or, in other words, ONE MILLION per annum is to be added to the current expenditure, and provided to meet the engagements on which we are entering. We have thus, under the most untoward circumstances, to bear the whole charges of a war occasioned by a• prudent regard for the interests of posterity, but to cover Mr. GLADSTONE'S financial blunders we are to pay off so much of the burdens bequeathed by our ances tors. This is neither just nor politic. Nay, more, it may not be practicable. We have great faith in the elasticity of the national resources, but it is not fair to tax them too severely. We must re collect that the full amount of these bills may at any time be paid in at par in liquidation of duties, or other debts to the Crown. So that, although not, redeemable untillBsB, the whole' may be brought to account on the wrong side of our national balance-sheet in any single year. This is a dangerous liability, and one which ought to be carefully considered before it receives the Parliamentary sanction ! There are other points also deserving of notice, to which we shall not fail to direct public atten tion before the re-assembling of the popular repre sentatives after the Easter Recess. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, APRIL 21. The dinner party at the Castle yesterday included the Duchess of Kent, Lady Anna Maria Dawson, Colonel. the Hon. C. B. Phipps, the Baroness de Speth, and Mr. Gibbs. The band of the Royal Horse Guards was in attend. ance during dinner. Her Majesty's private band after wards attended in the Castle, and played the following selection : Overture, "La Sirene" Auber. Selection, "L'Etoile du Nord" Krieges Marsch The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Coun- tess of Desart, the Hon. Mary Bulteel, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Lieut.-Col. F. H. Seymour, drove out yes terday afternoon, and honoured the Duchess of Sather land with a visit at Clifden. The royal party occupied two open carriages. The Princesses Helena and Louisa also took a carriage drive. The Earl of Clarendon is expected to-day on a visit to her Majesty. Despatches for the Governor of Canada were sent Las' evening from the Colonial-office. THE FIRST _PRIZE. PORTSMOUTH, FRID.LT This evening, between 6 and 7 o'clock, no little commo tion was caused in this port by the appearance in the road stead of one of her Majesty's steam-vessels having a sailing ship in tow, and making for the harbour with all speed. The ramparts were quickly thronged with the inhabi tants, who, as soon as the vessel approached near enough for the colours of the sailing craft to be made out as Russian, loudly cheered her fortunate captors. On boarding the vessel, we found that her Majesty's revenue steam cruiser Argus, Commander M. W. S. Grandy, which left Southead yesterday, fell in with the Froya, for Abo, 440 tons, 15 men, Wickmann, master, to-day about noon, between the Owers and Beechy Head (about 18 miles from the latter point), and boarded her, ultimately making a prize of her. She is a fine ship, four years old, and apparently in good condition. She left Lisbon on the 28th ultimo, with about 600 tons of salt as cargo, and was bound for Abo, a lthough her master (who speaks very good English) says Elsinore. No opposition was offered to her deten tion, and Commander Grandy accordingly took her in tow, and brought her in here. She carries two nine pound carronades, together with small arms for her crew, and a little ammunition. The revenue authori ties who have boarded her consider her a lawful prize, and the capture has been duly reported to the Port- Admiral, and by him to the Admiralty. VISIT OF HRH MAJESTY TO ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. —Yesterday the preparations commenced at St. Paul's Cathedral for the reception of her Majesty on the ap• proaching anniversary of the Festival of the Sons of the Clergy, who, together with the Royal Consort, will, according to the arrangements, be present. The whole interior of the Cathedral is being fitted for visitors. The Lord Mayor and corporation intend to make extraordi dinary arrangements to welcome the Queen and Prince Albert's visit the City. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon are staying during the recess at the Grove, Watford, his lordship coming to town to transact business at the Foreign- Office. The Earl Howe's second son, the Hon. Major Curzon, of the Grenadier Guards, lately on the staff of Sir George Cathcart, at the Cape. has been appointed Aide-de-camp to the Hon. Major-General George Anson, who has arrived from Europe to assume the command in the Bengal Presidency. Lieut. the Hon. Leicester•Curzon, of the Rifle Brigade, embarked on the staff of Lord Raglan at Marseilles, for the seat of war. We understand that Lady Raglan and family, by telegraphic despatch, received yesterday intelligence of the departure of the Gallant General Lord Raglan and staff, on board her Majesty's steamer Caradoc, at Mar seilles, on Wednesday, for Constantinople, where his lordship would assume the command•in-chief of the British expeditionary force. BRITISH AUSTRALIAN GOLD COMPANY.—An adjourned meeting of this company took place yesterday, when it was stated that all their men had been discharged, ex cept those working at Spring Creek, and that the Sey mour grant had been relinquished. The directors have despatched one of their officers to Melbourne with ma chinery to work the abandoned diggings at Bendigo, allowing a commission on the amount received. From i this source it is thought some profit may he derived. In answer to a. question, the chairman intimated that about 13,0001. of the capital remains intact. COMMERCIAL CREDIT MUTUAL ASSURANCE SOCIETY.— The annual report of this society was presented at a meeting held yesterday, and was unanimously adopted. It states that the experiment in this country of applying the principle of mutual assurance to the protection of traders against commercial losses has been found to suc ceed, and that there are now 223 firms on the books of the company holding policies, and whose aggregate annual returns amount to 4,925,000/. NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA.—The mail communi cation between New York and California now occupies 25 days. It is a fortnightly communication, and costs the American Government about 200,0001. a year. it has been seriously entertained by the American House of Representatives to offer half a million sterling a year to whatever company will establish a mail communica tion between New Orleans and San Francisco in 10 days. Of the practicability of the fact in a short time no doubt seems to be entertained. SUDDEN DEATH THROUGH EXCITEMENT.—Last night a melancholy occurrence took place in Angel-court, Strand, under the following distressing circumstances —A married woman, named Weston, who is a perfect virago, never happy unless when quarreling or fighting, and the terror of the females of the neighbourhood, had been engaged during the whole of Friday in displaying her numerous accomplishments, and proficiency in Bil lingsgate and other slang language upon an unoffending aged woman, the wife of John Connor, who resides in the above-mentioned court, but not being satisfied with the scurrilous language she poured forth upon the old lady, she waylaid the daughter, and about ten o'clock, as the young woman was entering the passage, seized her by the hair, and commenced pummeling most unmerci-, fully. Mrs. Connor, on hearing the screams of her daugh ter, hastened to her assistance, and only uttered the exclamation, "Oh ! part them for God's sake," when she Tell down and instantly expired. Medical aid was immediately obtained, but it was of no avail. The Coroner has received information of the melancholy oc currence. MONEY MARKE AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estfinated at 6,000 biles, of which 2,000 were taken far-export and on speculation. The market closed steadily without animation. Railway Shares were flat at lower prices. The anomaly of the various regulations connected with the Russia trade, as altered or, expounded from time to time by our authorities, has already been noticed under this head ; and, however well intentioned, they have the natural effect of dissatis fying even those whom they are intended to serve. Perhaps we should remark that, in giving the sub joined statement by Messrs. Smith and Charles, we leave it to the trade to judge of the interesting de tails it contains " The Russia trade has once more been thrown into con fusion by the Government of this country. An Order in Council was issued on Tuesday last, which has puzzled our merchants and their legal advisers to interpret. Stripped of its contradictions it would appear to amount ta this :- 1. Any Russian vessel may leave any Russian port, with a cargo on board, on or before the 15th May next (new style). 2. After that date no subject of any country whatsoever may ship goods from a blockaded port. 3. But neutral or British subjects may carry on trade with Russia, and bring the goods so purchased, overland, to neutral ports, whence they ma y ship them in British or neutral vessels. 4. Also, Russian subjects may send their goods overland to neutral ports, whence they may be brought as above. 5. Also, from now blockaded ports neutral vessels may bring goods. On No. 1 we have. to observe that Revel is the only port where there is any tallow, and there there are only 300 casks. At Petersburg there is no tallow. It is true 2,000 to 3,000 casks might be brought from Moscow to Peters. burg in a few days, but for the following reasons we do not believe this will be done. The last advices from Petersburg are to the Ist (13th) April. The Nava, and far beyond Cronstadt. was then one mass of ice. The recent order in council, telegrsphed to Petersburg, will probably reach that city on 24th instant, allowing eight days far sending goods from Petersburg to Cronstadt, and getting them on board at the latter place, we have 13 days (i. e. from 24th April to 7th May) for ordering and purchasing, the tallow, and forwarding it. to Petersburg by railroad. Then we must have cyan water betwpen Petersburg and Cronstadt, and we must have vessels to take the goods. Now, of Russian tonnage, there is at Cronstadt about 1,200 tons; and this, it is Rost probable, will be immediately secured (supposing the water to be open) for the hemp, flax, bristles, and wheat lyirc , at Petersburg, an d o f w hi c h th ere are ten times more than these vessels could take. But even were there abundance sf ship room it is moat unlikely that aisy marchant will luaus thp, aaajLAtesia dept en ordering taforbm Moscow to be shipped under the above circum stances, with the possibility moreover of his property being seized by the Czar. It is one thing for a merchant to make an effort to get away his goods already bought, and lying in Petersburg, it is quite another thing for him to embark in a fresh operation. No. 2 speaks for itself No. 3, however strange it may appear, that simul taneously with a bl oc k a d e, ma i nta i ned at' an enormous expense by the allied powers, British subjects should be allowed to carry on trade overland with Russia, such would appear to be the fact, and it is our busi ness to deal with the actual, and not with an ideal state of things. The question, then is, how will No. 3 affect our imports? Now we have already shown (3rd March) that - to bring any considerable quantity of goods .overland, is a physical impossibility. We have also shown (31st ultimo) that admitting this to be possible, enough appears in the looming forms of cruisers, admiralty courts, confiscation and prize money, to lead to the con clusion that a business surrounded with such difficuities and accompanied by such hazards and possible delays, will scarcely be attempted by any but our wealthiest mer chants, and by, them only on a moderate scale. We have not heard any thing since the date of these circulars to alter our opinion; and we have now only to observe that, while No. 3 grants permission to British merchants to carry on trade, with Russia, and No. 4 permits Ru ss ian subjects to forward their goods overland to England, and that the tendency of these measures is to afford facilities to trade that, nevertheless, wo believe the difficulties, dangers, and delays of such business will prevent all but a very inconsiderable proportion of our last years' supply, 847,267 cwt. coming forward. No. sis not worth notice, as every port of any consequence, will of course, be blockaded. The changes arising from the quarterly pay ments exercised a sensible influence again upon the Bank of England during the week to the 15th inst., and the exports of bullion likewise conduced thereto. The amount to the credit of the Government was trenched upon for the same reason, and the want of money in private circles is shown by the reduc tion of the other deposits. Probably the repay ment of loans obtained from the Bank, as well as specie shipments, conduced to this, since the other securities are diminished. Compared with the previous week, the changes are as follows : Active circulation. Increase Bullion Decrease 629,726 Rest Increase 6,069 Public Deposits 1,765,364 Decrease 918,390 Other Deposits 12,795,201 Decrease Seven-Day and other Bills Increase 18,326 Government Securities 13,686,596 Decrease 252,536 Other Securities • Decrease 957,015 i Notes unemployed ... , 4,278,125 I Decrease ' 690,630 ___ The rates for bllls of exchange upon the principal Continental cities were yesterday rather higher. Paris, 90 days, WIS taken at 25 25 to 30 ' • Amster dam' at 11 15k to 151 ; Hamburgh, at 134 i to 5i ; and Trieste, at 1342 to 54. All the gold recently to hand by the Harbinger is reported by 'Messrs. Haggard and Pixley as having been sold, E,nd that by the Sovereign of the Seas is expscted to be disposed o f. The notice given late yesterday afternoon by the Bank of England, and communicated in a late edition of The Stn, as to the proposed issue of six millions of-Exchequer Bonds, took the majority of the Stock Exchange members by surprise, the whispers of the ramming attributing the decline' in Consols to sales 1y the Savings Bank Commissioners or the Bank of En land to facilitate a funding or a new loan. The invitation now given - to tender for Ex chequer Bonds is quite new reading," since it is a mere transfer of one security for another, although undoultedly, should it prove successful, it will pave the way for a loan hereafter. Any further issue of such bonds this session, it is spe cially promised, shall not b e ma d e , , but the queS- • tion asked will b 3 whether more Exchequer bills would be put upon the market. The Government will not please sreculators- and capitalists who de sired to profit by its necessities, and possibly on that account they tray discountenance the present scheme ; but the public are concerned that perma nent additions to the Debt should be avoided if pos sible, and it woull be very satisfactory if the Bonds could be floated on the market as an experiment. The interest and the convertibility of the new secu- ' rity are the points which will be strictly scrutinised under existing circumstances ere people tender. The amount of silver exported from London direct during the week to Thursday last, was 178,163 oz., of geld 4,457 oz. The English Stock Market has been exceedingly quiet i and opened at the decline which occurred aftsir hours" yesterday afternoon, when the notice came down from Government—viz., at 87 to for Consols. The quotations, however, are now improving, the news of a Russian defeat having occasioned a rally of to / per Cent. Con sols now are 87i- to The New 3 per Cents. have been 86Z- to 871, and the 3 per Cents. 86 to t. Exchequer Bills have been at 4s. premium. Foreign' Securities have been quite neglected. Mexican Bonds have been flatter, at 23i to 24, and Dutch 21 per Cents. have been done at 56i to 57k. The Share Market has been very inert, and prices are down about per Cent., as far as can be judged by the very limited transactions entered into. Foreign- Shares are equally dull. The Mining Market is without the least move ment, and Joint-Stock Banks are nominally rather heavy. Land Companies' Shires have been steady. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. (From the Oficial List.) Business done. 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities B6.k 6 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities B7i New 3f per Cent. Annuities B6t 7i Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Dittc 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859: 4 7-16 Consols for Account 11th May B7 Exchequer Bills, 2d. 21000 2500 Small PIi,JOE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Mexican 3 per Cent. Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Ex - change, 2A per Cent. 12 TWO O'CLOCK. Console B7 Ditto May Account APOTHECARIES'-HALL.—The following are the names of gentlemen who passed their examination in the science and practice of medicine, and received certificates to practise, on Thursday, the 20th of April, 1854:----Spencer Edmonds, St. Helen's, Lancashire ; Heckstall Smith, St. Mary Cray, Kent ; John Ander Vincent, Oxford ; Henry Stear, Cambridge ; James Hinton, Clifton, Bris tol ; George James Stilwell, Epsom ; George Grey, Newcastle-uporp-Tyne ; John Sparrow, Tours , France ; Charles Stuart Watkins, Chandos-street ; Robert Wm. Cockerill, army ; Francis Albert Nesbitt, Louth, Lin colnshire ; John Fox, Old Strafford, Manchester. BANKRUPTCY.—At the Court of Bankruptcy yester day the final examination of Mr. W. B. Anderson was further adjourned. The debts and liabilities are stated to be 20,000/., and the assets in hand 2,4001. A fur ther sum will, it is anticipated, be realized. STEAM - VESSELB.—it appears from a Parliamentary paper that the number of steam-vessels registered in the United Kingdom during the year 1853 was 1,375, and their united burden amounted to 248,623 tons. Q 2, 185 4. FRANCE AND ENGLAND. The following is the text of the - Convention be tween the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Emperor of the French relative to the aid to be given to the Ottonian empire :--- Lours Majestes la Reine du Royaume Uni de la Grande Brotagne et d'lriande et l'Empereur des Francais decidees a prear leur appui i Sa Majeste le Sultan Abdul Medjid, Empereur des Ottomans, dans la guerre qu' e ll e sen ti en t contre les agressious' de la Russie ; et amenees, en entre, malgre leurs efforts sinceres et perseverans pour maintenir la paix, a devenir 01es-I:Mines parties belligerantes dans une guerre qui, sans leur intervention active, eut menace l'existence de l'equilibre Europeen et les interets de leurs propres Etats, out en consequence resolu de conclure une Convention destinee a determiner l'objet de leur alliance, aipsi que lee moyens a employer en commun pour le remplir i l fet nomme a cet effet p our l eurs Ple u ip o t en ti a i res : "Sa Majeste la Reine du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et d'lrland, le Tres Honorable George Guillaume Frederic, Comte de Clarendon, &c., Principal Secretaire d'Etat de Sa Majeste Britanuique pour lee Affaires Etran gereS • " Et Sa Majeste l'Empereur lee Francais, le Sieur Alex andre Colonna, Comte Walewski, S:c., Son Ambassadeur pres Sa Majeste Britannique ; " Lesquels, s'etant reciproquement communique leurs pleins-pouvoirs, trouves en bonne et due forme, ont arrete et signe les articles suivans : " ARTICLE I. "Les Hautes Parties Contractantes s'engagent a faire ce qui dependra d'elles pour ()parer le rotablissement do la paix entre la Russia et la Sublime Porte sur des bases so lidos et durable, et pour garantir l'Europe centre le retour des regrettables complications qui viennent de troubler si malheureusement la pail generale. " ARTICLE "L'integrite de rEmpire Ottoman se trouvant viole par l'occupation des Provinces de Moldavie et de Valachie, of par (Ventres mouvements dos troupes Russes, Leurs Majestes la Reine du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et d'lrlande et l'Empereur des Francais se soot concertees et se concerteront sur les moyens les plus propres a affranchir le tot ritoiro du Sultan de l'invasion etrangere, et a atteindre le but specific dans l'Articlo I. Elles s'engagent a cet effet entretenir, selon les necessites de la guerre, appreciees d'un con; mun accord, des•forces de terre et de mer suffisantes pour y faire face, et dont des arrangements subsequence de.- temiuiront o s'il y a lieu, la qualite, le nombre, et la desti nation. " ARTICLE 111. " Quelque ovenament qui se produise en consequence de l'execution de la presents Convention, les Mutes Partiqs Contractantes s'obligent n'a,ccueillir aucune ouverture nine aucune proposition tendant 6, la cessation des hosti lites, et n'entrer dans aucun arrangement avec is. Cour Imperials de Russie, sans en avoir prealablement delibere en commun. ` ARTICLE IV. ',"Anim6es du desir de xnaintenir Pequilibre European, et ne pOursuivant aucun but interesse, les Hautes Parties Contractantes renoncent d'avance A retirer aucun avantage particulier des evenernens qui pourront se produiro. " ARTICLE V. " Leurs Majestes la Refine du Royaume Uni de la Grande •Bretagne, et d'lrlande et l'Empereur des Francais, recev ront avec empressntent dans lour alliance, pour cooperer au but propose, celles des autres Puissauces de I'Europe qui voudraient y entrer. - "ARTICLE VI. "La present° Convention sera ratifiee, et les ratifica tions serout eohangess a Londres dans l'espace de huil jours. "En foi de quoi les Plenipotentiaries respectifs I'on signee, et y out appose le sceau de lours armes. " Fait 11 Lonclres, le dix Avril, l'an do grace mil hui cent cinquant•quatre. " CLARENDON. " A. WALEWSKI." SPORTING NOTES. NOTIONS FROM NEWMARKET. Certain races at Newmarket were prospectively impor tant, and they have alrealy exercised a perceptible influ ence on speculation on coming events. Baalbec's satisfac tory performance on Tuesday brought him into increased prominence for the Chester Cup, although his subsequent defeat by BJiardo without mat er i a lly di scourag i ng his supporters, evidently "flattered" and reassured his oppo nents, The renewed demonstration too that was made in favour of .N ewminster caused a temporary reaction to set in against him. His " downward tendency," however, was too slight to dismay his partizans, and ho again steadily maintains his position in the betting. That Baalbec will be a most formidable competitor for the Chester Cup, I unhesitatingly believe. It is plausibly argued, however, that his running with Boiardo proved him to be an animal of somewhat limited racing ability. But this opinion appears to be founded on prejudice and error. He certainly " lived" with Boiardo throughout the encounter, and he beat Phaeton—an animal much fancied, and the winner of the Criterion—by many lengths. Grant ing, however, for the sa k e o f argumen t , t h at Baalbec 2:3 a moderate animal, still it must be acknowledged that at his weight, 4st, bib., even a horse of slender pretensions must possess a somewhat formidable chance for the Chester Cup. Indeed, as a shrewd judge remarked to me, " Baalbec need not be within a stone of a good horse to win the Chester Cup." Newininster is a puzzler. One day he is spiritedly sup ported, and them for a week his name is seldom mentioned. Still my " advices " from Malton state that he is in excel lent health and condition, and that " all Yorkshire will stand him to a man." On the publication of the handicap Newminster was among my " first fancies," but I am com• pelled to confess that the " fondness " which I once enter tained for him has been somewhat diminished by the mys terious movements connected with him. Boiardo is, of course, the rtiling and undisputed favourite for the Two Thousand Guineas. Indeed his success seems almost reduced to a certainty. Still he will encounter a somewhat stropg field of opponents. Much uncertainty exists respecting the starting of Ruby, and odds are freely laid that he will not go to the post. His party certainly ' seem little inclined to exhibit him to the public ; a circum stance which is by many persons regarded with suspicion. A question has been started respecting his age, and although it is probable that when he does "come out" an examine of his mouth will be ordered, yet people who declare that they " knew him when a foal," assure me that he correctly is described in the list of nominations. Marble Hill is a large well-made horse, and possesses no insignificant out side chance of carrying off The Guineas. The hastily-penned note which I despatched from New market on Tuesday, respectina the Port Stakes, prepared my readers for the scratching of West Australian, and the defeat of Sittingbourne. I then wrote :—" Even the withdrawal of West Australian front the " Port" will not surprise me. Sittingbourne, too, although much fancied, appears to me to be not "exactly up to the mark." Should West AUB ralian be scratched, I shall, with a start, be in dined to place some faith in Orestes. At the time the above sentence was penned, odds were betted on West Austra lian, and Orestes had not arrived, or was scarcely expected at Newmarket. On the withdrawal of West Australian, 3 and 4to 1 were freely betted on Sittingbourne. My in formation, however, preyed correct, Sittingbourne was " not exactly up to the mark," and my faith in Orestes was not misplaced. I believe that I am the only sporting writer who entertained any con fidence in the success of Orestes. Indeed, so great a certainty was Sittingbourne's success deemed that " Vates," who is distinguished for the general correctness of his judgment, stated, on the morning . of thelrace, that "it would almost galvanise him to see anything shoot Sittingbourne past the winning post." The York Spring Meeting will take place on Tuesday and Thursday next. Speculation on the Great Northern Handicap is almost entirely engrossed by Virago, whose success seems to ba regarded as a foregone conclusion. Notwithstanding, however, her double victory at Epsom, I shall be little surprised to witness her defeat. I shall reserve my opinion on the probable result until Monday. April 22. A FRESH MAN. BAIL COURT.--(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Justice Coleridge and a Common Jury.) WILLIAMS V. FOWLER. This was a case of assault. Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, with Mr. Brewer, appeared for-the plaintiff, and Mr. Edwin James, with Mr. Hawkins, for the defendant. When the case was eallen on, Mr. Edwin James said that he was instructed to say that his client, having assaulted the plaintiff under cir cumstance of provocation, as he thought, at time of committing such assault, he now apologised, and con sented to a verdict of 30/. damages. Mr. Sergeant Wilkins said that his client, who was a gentleman of great respectability, as indeed was the de fendant, had no wish beyond having something like a re dress for the offence committed, consented to the terms, notwithstanding his (Mr. Sergeant Wilkins's) firm con viction that were his client to go to the jury, he would recover a far higher sum than that proposed by the de fendant. The Jury were then sworn, and a verdict for 301, given. COURT OF - BANKRUPTCY.-==(THIS DAY.; (Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.) EXTENSIVE MERCANTILE FAILURE. - IN RE BEEGTHEIL. This bankrupt was described as of Ahchurch-lane, merchant, and formerly carrying on business under the firm of Bergtheil and Jung, at Natal, Africa, and to-day was appointed for consideration of his certificate. Mr. Reed appeared on behalf of Messrs. Cooper and Co., of Friday-street, warehousemen, to apply for an adjournment of the case until accounts could be obtained from Natal. The debts were stated at 26,0001., besides liabilities, and the assets at present 'only amount to 1,5001., but the bankrupt states that he has property at Natal to the amount of 27,0001., and powers of attorney had been sent out to realise the property. Mr. Parker, for Messrs. Ellis also considered that there tbould be an immediate decision on the certificate, but wished to examine the bankrupt to show that he was insolvent when he contracted the debt of Messrs. Ellis. The case is likely to occupy all the day. THE LATE ROBBERY AT CLIFTON, BRlSTOL.—Yester day, at the .Bristol Quarter Sessions, the two men, named Bath and Harvey, concerned in the robbery of watches, jewellery, &c., from the shop of Mr. Cordeux, Clifton, were tri e d, f ound guilty, and sentence d to four years' penal serv i tude by the Recorder of Br i sto l , Sir Alexander Cockburn, who, in passing sentence, said that he was determined to deal even more severely with parties receiving s t o l en property t h an w ith the thieves themselves. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF JEWELS. ---Yesterday infor mation was received that the residence of R. H. Peter, Esq., 45, Hyde-park -square, had been plundered of plate, jewellery, &c., to a considerable amount, the robbers getting clear away with their booty. Amongst the articles stolen is an antique diamond ear-ring of great value. A reward of 501. is offered for the dis covery of the parties. EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITION.—The committee of the exhibition met yesterday (Friday) afternoon at the rooms of the Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, when th e mem b ers o f the sub-committees for finance, for correspondence, for classification ,of the collection and arrangement of building (this being also a committee ,of selection), and for lectures were severally appointed. LATEST FOREIGN NEWS. DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS IN THE DOBRTTDSCHA. VIENNA, FRIDAY, APRIL 2 ,4 —A correspondence from the Lower Danube, in the Presse, dated April 13, says : " A great battle has been fought between Paschgagiez and Kostelli, in the Dobrudscha. The Russians were defeated, with a loss of 3,000 men. The Turks lost 1,500. " The combined fleets off Kustendje rendered material assistance to the Turks, by engaging the left flank of the Russians." The news is considered doubtful here. VIENNA, FRIDAY EVENING.—The Oest. Corres pondenz announces the Austro-Prussian Alliance, adding that the recently concluded European Pro tocol of the 9th should be enforced in a way be seeming the dignity and interests of Germany. It is said that Prussia thereby pledges herself to cover with 120,000 men the movements of the Austrian• forces in the south and east. The Vladika of Montenegro has issued a procla mation, calling the Montenegrins to arms against Turkey for their co-religionists. Austria energetically protests against any move ment in Montenegro, and the export of arms from Austria to Montenegro is prohibited. • The Russians are 125 English miles from Varna. Count Nesselrode's circular to the Russian diplomatic agents is favourable to the Greek in surrection. The Duke of Cambridge arrives here this even. ing. His Royal Highness is the bearer of a letter of congratulation from the Queen to the Emperor. The Emperor has gOne by, land to pay a flying visit to his bride, at Linz, bat will be back to-mor row to receive her. The Wanderer asserts that the Russians lost all their stores in the conflagration at Fokschani. The o,sservatore Triestino, which is generally well informed on such matters, says that the police have discovered a Greek conspiracy at Constanti- nople for attacking the Turks and Franks during the Easter holydays. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe has received several menacing anonymous letters. The military posts have been tripled in Pera and Galata. The ministerial Prussian Correspondence contra dicts the report that - the Chevalier Bunsen had been recalled. The conclusion of an offensive and defensive alliance between France and England has been notified to this court by the ambassadors of both powers. AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA. The Silesian Gazette states, from Frankfort, that the Germanic Diet will soon replace the black, red, and gold cockade, now in use as the Germanic colours, by a general sign to be henceforward worn by the German army. A letter from Vienna states that the Emperor of Austria has given a sum of 80,000 florins to the poor of Gallicia. THE BALTIC. • MORE PRIZES. HAMBURG, APRIL 2 0.—Yesterday, the 19th, four more merchant vessels, belonging t o R uss i a , were captured• by the English cruisers, and taken - to Copenhagen. The number of prizes there amounts, "therefore, at present to 14. - All the English men-of-war have left the road stead of Copenhagen. MEMEL, APRIL 17.—Five Russian merchant ves sels have been brought into this port, and four more prizes are in sight, coming in under the Bri tish flag, The small screw-ship Conflict., 8, Capt. J. Foote, has taken these ships, and it is announced that eight other prizes are coming in. The Cologne Gazette contains a letter from Ros tock, which declares that at the general meeting of the Screw Steam Company it was decided that their trips to St. Petersburg should be suspended for the present. THE WEATHER IN THE BALTIC. Subjoined are the latest advices relative to the state of the navigation in the Baltic : AHENDI.L, April 7.—The wind has been continually from N.W. and W., occasionally strong, and with cold weather, but the winter appear to be quite at an end. Gorazishunh, April 13.—The Jantina Omff),.v. d. Verf. was found off Benskarssund, S. of Hon*, April 7, a total wreck, and abandoned by the crew. STOCKHOLM, April 11.—There has been very stormy weather here for the last few days, so that the ice in these waters is still more broken up, and the navigation inwards is open. GEFLE, April 6.—The fairway from the sea to the town is now open. From Eggegrund there has been no drift ice visible, either northwards or southwards since the 31st March. SUNDSWALL, April s.—The weather is fine, and the navigation expected to be open shortly. REVEL, April 7.—The Alwine, Schwanck ; Iris, Jur gensen ; and Edmund, Friedr►chsen, were driven on shore by the ice below Rogoe, but are now again afloat, and at anchor there. It is blowing a strong gale aW. to N.W., and the water here is open from Wulff to the Kakkomegger—Point westwards. The John Arthur, Gabrahn, from London, is at anchor off the north point of Wulff, and in a rather dangerous situation. The fol lowing vessels have succeeded in getting into Baltic Port :—Niels Gylding, Fischer ; Dannebrog, Hay ; Lisette, Laarrs—all three from Messina. Molly, Polaz ; Anna, Harlid ; Pythia Haggmann ; Furst Menschikoff, Latin—all four from Liverpool. Anna Catharina, Box berg, from Newcastle, 'and ten others. The following are lying in the ice off Rogoe Jurgensen ; Georye Sverdrup, Froken, both from Messina, and six others. BALTIC PORT, April 6.—The ice in the bay has been driven by the heavy gale at NAV. almost up to the harbour. BOLDERAA, April 13.—The Gulf, as far as the eye can reach, is still covered with ice, and the 20 vessels arrived in sight of this port are lying off the coast of Courland, surrounded by it. The sea channel still remains firm, but the river mouth has been open for some days. Wind N., temperature 5 deg. frost ; depth of water 13. 1 feet. ST. PETERSBURG. Letters from the frontiers of Russia say that the Russian Government, having hitherto affected to consider the neutrality of Austria and Prussia as an ascertained fact, is now obliged to let its doubts and fears become visible. A new levy of 11 men upon every 1,000 of population is spoken of, to correspond with the mobilisation by Austria of its Hungarian contingent, in order to facilitate the formation of an army on the Gallician frontier. It was known at St: Petersburg that reliancs could no longer be placed upon the neutrality of Germany, and the Cabinet was quite conscious of the serious position of affairs. The news from Finland continues to be very melancholy. The whole country is already nearly ruined, and starvation stares the peasantry in the face. Their corn has been seized for the army ; not even seed-corn has been left tlfem ; and they have been paid in worthless assignats. Their horses and cattle are emple . v ed for military transports, and themselves fear every illegality. The cruelties practised on the unfortunate Alanders show what they have to expect. Prices are rising every day ; no raw material exists for the handicraftsmen and manufacturers. Last year the harvest was very poor ; this year their barns are plundered, and their homes filled with Cossacks. The precious Metals have been removed from the Finnish Bank in Helsingfors, and have been deposited "for safety" in St. Petersburg, the whole country being thus plun dered and made bankrupt at one blow. The in habitants are flying from that town as quickly. as possible, fearing a bombardment. The University library is transported into the interior, and the archives aro similarly secured. But the most ter rible news is behind. Runeberg, the greatest living poet in Christendom—Runeberg, the idol of all the northern nations, the scald of his country and of freedom, as far as the Russian censorship permitted—has disappeared. He has been sent to Siberia, or transferred to the interior of Russia. His family is inconsolable. The Cologne Gazette, under date of St. Peters burg, 9th says :—" The Emperor has just decided on the manner of estimating the rate of prize money to be paid for the capture of the enemy's vessels. Ships of the line, frigates, and steam cor vettes, are to be estimated at double their ordi nary value, and steamers smaller than corvettes, at their ordinary value. Steam vessels burnt or sunk will be estimated according to the number of guns which shall be taken." THE DANUBE. A letter from Orsowa states that the Turks have completed a third rampart before Kalafat, so that the Russians if they wished to attack that place, would be obliged to take three lines of well-de fended works before they could reach the fortifica tions of Kalafat itself. The Dresden Gazette, under date of Bucharest, Bth, says :_c , Orders have been given to raise for tifications at this place, principally on the- north side, with a view, as it would appear, to secure the town agai ns t a s u r p r i se from the enemy. The 3,000 purchasel some time since fur p(intons, are to be converted into paliSades for these works." THE DOBRUDSCELA.. The following is Omer Pacha's official report o the passage of the Danube by the Russians : TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE SERASKIEE. (Translation ) A Russian corps (Parolee, supported by all the available forces in the vicinity of Galatz, effected successfully, on the 30th Rebrula c hi r , th e passage o f the Danube, notwithstand ing the valiant resistance of our small force, and is now* stationed on the ri g ht b an k. O ur strength haiing been, owing to the force of circumstances, divided on several points, and that of the enemy overwhelming, I deemed it expedient to transmit without delay orders to Mustapha Pacha to concentrate the troops at Nazalkais, intirsova, Tassactchi, and others, and fall back in good order, as might best be done, in the directi on o f K arasou. I wa S apprised, moreover, the 6th corps of the army of Bessa rabia was also advancing with two divisions of infantry and one of cavalry from the Principalities in suppoit of the enemy'samovement. Under these circumstances, convinced of the impossibility of resisting such a powerful force with any chance of success, I considered it indispensable to direct a ll my attention to our head-quarters at Schumla, and there muster the available strength of our extended lines. All idea, therefore, of advancing to attack the enemy at gars sou with forces unequ a l t o the occasion, and whereby Schumla would have been necessarily left without suffi cient defences, has been ab an d one d . Accordingly, I have forwarded orders to Miistapha Pacha, to relinquish that position and join me with the troops under his command. Si milar instructions have also been transmitted to other points of our lines, so as to concentrate here as much sa; possible our available strength, and meet the enemy ere long in a pitched battle. Redjeb, 2d, Schumla. (Signed) OKEIt• A different version of Omer Pacha's ;report i* given by the Moniteur : "The Russians, supported by considerable forces which they have on the banks of the river, and disposing of a great 'number of boats, advanced with a numerous body of troops on three points at onco—Pot-Bachi, which is lower than Slatschin; Tchatal Bournou above Tultscha, and at another point below that town. Our troops fought, and displayed the most extraordinary courage; so much so that a Russian regiment, which first attacked the battery of Tchatal, Wee completely annihilated, not a single man remaining. Tyr* other battalions sent to its support experienced nearly a similar fate, but the battery being soon afterwards Ai' tacked by 15 battalions at the same time, was taken. The Russian troops dir cted, on Pot-Bachi were three times driven back at the point of the bayonet, and lost more than 1,000 men. Six pieces of cannon which had been brought by them from this side of the river could not be taken by our troops, and remained on the ground until the evening, being unapproachabl e in consequence of the cross fire of our batteries, of the enemy's artillery, and of, their gun-boats. Our batteries having been placed by the • fire of heavy ordnance in such a state that they were nO' longer tenable by our troops, the firing ceased on both sides, After a combat which lasted more than4B hours without ces sation, that is to say, after our troops had supported for two days and two nights, not only the fire of the enemy's gun' boats, but also that of 25 pieces of artillery, and, two mortals, placed on the island, and in the batteries on the bank of the river. Some hours afterwards, and during the night, our troops retired with their artillery. The IDussians have been, as above stated, defeated in three places, and bar had an extraordinary number of men killed. ; but their forces were very considerable on the river and ion land, and on the other hand our corps were too far from each other to give mutual support, and It is for that reason that our troops returned to Karasou agreeably to instrutltions which had been given to them." We are in almost daily receipt of intelligence frons the Danube, says a Constantinople letter of the 10th inst., and all our letters bear testimony to the astonishing bravery of two Turkish battaliions, which resisted at the point of the bayonet the passage c£. the stream by an overwhelming Russian force. The .onslaught of this devoted little baud was e .o obstinate and terrific that the enemy's gunboats were core' palled, as a last resource to exterminate,it, indiscri minately and brutally, with a large body of their own troops by a storm of grape and mum ketry. The loss of the Russians in effecting the passage of the Danube, including drowned, killed am 1 wounded, amounts, it is said, to nearly eight thou isand 'meth , That of the Turks has also, it is und.ere stood, been very severe, and of the two battalions above men" mentioned in the foremost ranks three'poor fellows are all that remain to tell the tale. 'Jibe. Russians are now encamped on the northern points of the Dobrudscha territory. Those plains are 'now, it i 4 said, a scene- of ruin and desolation : the inhabitants fled, the villages deserted, the eittt 4 novalia and labours of industry all at th .e mercy of those barbarous hordes. Their planS of.furt4cf operations will necessarily combine to reach all possible haste the foot of the Balkan ; bub whether this may be effected or not with out a deer sive action and the utter destruction of Or vier Paolo:* army is, of course, a difficult matter to determine' You will perceive by the brief and evidently complete report of the Commander-in- Chief ths'' he is awaiting the enemy with all hii; availahl * strength at Slaumla. Should the force of Europeslt tactics, but above all - the skill of a xperiener, officers, prevail in this last stru gg l e over the wed' known valour of the Turkish troops, it is impow" sible to calculate the deplorable results of such catastrophe. Meantime,, the Anglo-Pi each fore* is lingering on the way, and the comma riders hai 0* this quetting and speech- ma ki ng i n every l oca li ty , this most critical conjuncture. It is really depl-cr; able, inexplicabl e , an d a fatality seems to ha rd favoured the aggressor ,in every phase of this U ll. just quarrel. Other letters give a very gloomy account of O. state of things in the Dobrudscha. The following is from a French naval officer' dated Varna,, April 2 : • " The squadron continues at Kavarna, but :several of O f have been staying in this place for the last Xve days. am sorry to say the Turks have been most '; dreadfolu beaten ; their loss must be considerable. Thee day befor . yesterday 70 waggons with the wounded were brought D i here, and we expect as many more to-morrow, The Ito!, pitals are so crow d e d th at the unfortunate fellows sg r lodged in private houses. • " Yesterday it was reported here, but I knew .v not what truth, that the Turks had been again ben.; ten near 0 the Balkan. " Should the Russians make a push on Varna, notbiq can prevent them from getting possession of it. It badly fortified, and has only a garrison of about 2,000:' W e "' whereas to defend it f or any length of time, it would '• quire at least 2000. " I am informed that 11 battalions have left .;clilv3l4l.s to support Selim P ac h a, and that Ismail Pacha is a ,clartanow' for the same phrpose with 8 battalions. " The Cacique, Magellan, and two English steam lora cruising at the mou th s of the Danube, with orderi to ' T 4 ",! or burn all the Russian ships and boats they can e aptare• A Constantinople letter of April 10 says :: " The news we have received leaves no longer as my doelb o r that we have been beaten, and that to the adonis: hmoUt,, everbody Omer P ac h a h as t a k en no measures to. stop ~, triumphal march of the Russians. It is true the ,l; he is '"" constant communication with the ministers, but'. his IE4O and despatches are kept a profound secret. Had itlhey ba" favourable, be a ssure d th ey would - be made pub] c. _ s only salvation is in the allied troops, they and t hey oaf_ can prevent the R uss i ans f rom cross i ng the Balkan i.. alas, where are these promised friends ? Not at ( ;onstel, tinople nor in the Dardanelles, for surely the few h nuAre' of men at Gallipoli cannot be called effective pro tectili We are told that the allied army will be at least 50, , 0vi, strong ; the Turks will believe it' when they see 'it. cannot, however, be denied that there must be or neglect somewhere, and great responsibility will h, are "" be borne by thos e w h o h ave so grossly deceived the „ by first pushing them into a war and then giving thesil - sort of negative assistance. , " Omer Pacha has withdrawn his troops from Selitnal P/ ".; „ and abandoned M a t c hi n, w hi c h place the Russians Gee ", pied, and got p ossess i on o f several pieces of cannon and - considerable quantity of ammunition and provisions. " The provinces have not suffered half so much °- the Russians as they have from the Bachi.bazouks (4 Turkish irregular troops), who have burnt and pilla.x „ several towns a n d cities, a ft er murdering their Christian I habitants. Omer Pacha has done, and continues to d everything he can to get rid of these vagabonds ; but to be feared that, driven from the army, they would . v over to the Rusians. " The Turkish army in Natolu is in a state of compre demoralisation. The typhus is committing great ravage 0 " and the want of money to pay them has caused the men I openly revolt, and many to desert." A French officer says : "This time you will receive bad news, and should og 0 army delay much longer its arrival, it is all up with al 0) .Turks. lam informed, almost ofacially, theyhave latet lost 3,000 men." The passage of the Russians across the Danube 0 Tultsha, says the Transyl van i an Messenger, was follows:—"On the 23d ult., at five in the morZ ing, the Turkish strand battery near' Csatal attacked by a hea v y cannonade from two Russia ; d steamers and 16 gun-boats, and then by the Ru sian battery opposite. The fire was a very hot 01 to on both sid es till ten o ' clock, when it began ' 0 slacken. About noon the Russians began to cro in boats below the Turkish battery, landed 900 i °(); fantry on the Turkish bank in the Gerla, unci , 0 the fire of the Turkish guns, and when the passai 3 was thus cov ere d, a b r id ge was promptly throw is across, over which passed the whole Ussakoff , 7 0 sion, about 16,000 strong, including t wo regimel ' of cavalry. The Turks had regular infantry ? number of Buzuk Basi, and also Tartars with cavai "d o , and a few guns. The Russians were at once i ceived with a violent musketry fire that lasted 1 late in the night. The Turk s , h op i ng to receir . reinforcement from Isaktsha, so as not to lose t 10 , battery, fought with such fu r y th at the Russial ,t 0 who were crowded in the G er l a, an d fired on frc be the battery, from four cavalry guns, and from . Turkish sharpshooters, all a t once, could not d 0 ploy. The Russians did' not succeed till midnigli. I:- and then only by making a heavy sacrifice, in 1 ". 9 " r ing the battery by st orm. At the storming t, , f made 90 of the defenders prisoners, Col. Ali . being one of theta, and sent 'them off to Isn 11; Sadik Pacha, co mman di ng the volunteers, was formerly k nown b y the name of Czaikov being found to be among the prisoners, . 17 : 0 put to death in co ld b lood by the Russ-LI; on the spot. Th e T urkish regulars fought IvLd uncommon gallantry, but the Buzuk Basi the Tartars s oon took to their heels, with 151 7 Pacha and Khan Murza Bey. The loss on I ) (7 is 5 sides was very great. The retreat of the Tur 4 , from the town was effected with, cool precision spite of the dangers that threatened from so ID quarters. A number of thieves got in along Nv_ i . ee the Rdssia ns, and when the Russian troops c hP", out agar from the town in order to go into t cam / sprez The ther( seize at th sea r s a theb of Turk • they 'and t their the 111 afugi tvidant Was kid touch They I be nople fah lhe l iee, pa *mem( of th e ' t6 . II( eor oe - l egged ci ieter e d 6 gre a Peire ~~~ As fa, mOl Tg k , ktt ' Wit I '.