The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-09-11 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA. THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL. TEE progress of events is still slow and seemingly uncertain in its course, as far as regards the siege. The Russians, actuated apparently by the necessities which press them, are making demonstrations of proceeding to field operations. Large bodies of them have been seen to leave Sebastopol, as if about once more to march upon the allied armies on the Tchernaya. These 'movements have been sufficient to keep the whole of the besieging army on the alert, as it is not known exactly whether they are meant as a prelude to a Aerious attack, or are merely a feint. The cor respondent of the Braes, writing from the camp before Sebastopol, on the 24th of August, says : Orders were given this Morning that no officer or man should quit the camp. An attack is expected, and the army is on its guard. Large bodies of Russians have been seen to issue from the town, and it is thought they meditate an on slaught upon the Sardinians. It may possibly prove a false alarm, like many others that we have lately had. On the 21st the troops were suddenly ordered under arms, the enemy had been observed in motion on the heights beyond the Tchernaya. Nothing came of it, nor of other similar recent alarms, but the qui vine is becoming our habitual state. We are completely in the dark as to the intentions of the commanding generals as regards offensive operations. All that we can see is that an attack on our lines is expected, and there our knowledge stops. Meanwhile, our artillery and naval bri gade are far from idle. A number of old guns have been sunk in the earth, and make excellent practice on the town, sending shells in all directions, and doing considerable damage. I be lieve it is intended to use up all our old guns in this way, and to dig up some that have been buried. The solid 68-pounder that was lately taken down to a battery on the left made an excellent shot a day or two ago at the bridge across the creek, over which a number of soldiers were passing at the time. The bullet cut the bridge in two, killing some of the men, pre cipitating others into the water, and sinking a barge. On the night of the 22nd, the sailors got another 68-pounder into No. 9 battery, Left Attack. The elings broke on the way, and it took some time, and such dexterity and exertion as none but sailors can displayjin a like degree on such occasions, to get the tackle right again and complete the journey. Unluckily, the accident took place just under fire of the Redan, which opened a heavy fire of shells on the p ar ty, b u t Jack, nothing daunted, persisted in his task, and fortunately accomplished it without casualty. j Great numbers of mortars are coming up both for us and the French, and this gives additional weight to the opinion entertained by various persons here—notably by some of the French staff—that it is intended to crush the place under a prodigious fire of mortars. There can hardly be a doubt that these are - the most effective weapons we can employ against Sebastopol. The vertical fire which Sir Howard Douglas ad vocated finds partisans among all practical men here. You may convert the huge earthworks of the Russian batteries into masses of iron by a horizontal fire, but for that the enemy will care little. It is quite clear that his inner works, not his outer ones, are what he reckons on, and only by a vertical fire we can hope to destroy the former. A meeting was held yesterday morning of officers of the Highland Division to inspect specimens of waterproof winter clothing, which were found excellent, and only slight altera tions were suggested. Sir Colin Campbell took the oppor tunity to read to his officers the copy of a note received by General Pelissier from the Emperor of the French, in which the Emperor informed him that he had positive intelligence that the Russians would not be able to pass the winter here. This 'would doubtless be by reason of the impossibility of getting up stores and provisions. Several deserters who have lately come in have agreed in stating that ammunition is plentiful in Sebastopol, but food hard to obtain. From Kertch we hear that the Spit of Arabat is completely commanded by our shipping, and that nothing can pass over it. As regards scarcity in the Russian camp, the latest " shave" current is that Gortschakoff telegraphed to Dolgorouki that he had but six days' rations left, whereupon Dolgorouki telegraphed back to Gortschakoff that there was plenty at Balaklava, and he had better go and take them. There is something in the wind this evening. The Guards and Highland Divisions were to furnish men for the trenches, and these were actually paraded when they were ordered to turn in and hold themselves in readiness for other duty. The men gave a smothered cheer as they obeyed the order. Since then I have seen a small body of men from one of those two divisions marching down through the dusk in the direc tion of the trenches, but there was but a company or two, besides a working party. The report in the divisions which received this unexpected and unusual order is that they are to be employed to repel a Russian attack on the line of the Tchernaya, whither all eyes appeared to be turned in expecta tion Of work. The French were under arms last night, as well as the Sardinians. General Pelissier apprehended an attack. The health of the army continues excellent. The weather is dry, dear, and not excessively warm. Sir. W. Eyre, com manding the Third Division, reports to the Quartermaster- General, under date of the 14th inst., in very high terms con cerning the excellent order in which he found the hospital on a recent inspection. " I cannot conceive," he says, " that sol diers in the field can be more orderly or comfortably accom modated." He adds that the sick are in possession of every comfort, and gives great credit to the medical men of the divisibn. The weather is decidedly favourable to field hospi tals, permitting doors to be left open and canvas raised so as to ventilate thoroughly, and I am ofte n s t ruc k, w h en passing through the camp, by the clean, cool, and comfortable appear ance of the hospital huts and marquees, and of their inmates. Aug. 25, noon.—We have had an agitated night and morn ing. There was a good deal of firing in the evening, which increased towards one o'clock, about which time a sortie was attempted by the Russians against the Mamelon, but promptly repelled. The firing was very heavy for a short time—as heavy as any night-firing that has been heard here for a long time past. At two a.m. the Highland Division marched to support the Sardinians. The whole army was under arms before daylight, an attack being fully expected, and General Simpson and his staff were out and round the lines. At this present time all is quiet, but the troops are ordered to be in readiness. So strong was the expectation of an action on the Tchernaya, owing to the movement of the Highlanders and other indica tions, that several amateurs went down to the ground where the battle, it was thought, would occur. The hour compels me to close this letter, but, according to every appearance, my next must take you news of a collision. It is intensely hot to-day, and the Russians generally are very quiet from noon till one or two o'clock—probably eating or reposing. THE FRENCH AND SARDINIAN ARMIES. The correspondent of the Times, on the 21st August, from the camp on the Tchernaya, writes Since the affair of the 16th we, on our side, have again relapsed into the former routine way. The Russians have vanished from all sides, and the siege operations have again monopolised, in a great measure, the interest which the Tcher naya line had attracted for the moment. There was, indeed, a report that the Russians had an intention of renewing their attack, but that the opening of the new batteries next morning upset their plans, as they apprehended some attack of the allies from that side. The Tchernaya has become, in consequence of the late attack, a point of attraction for all curiosity seeking persons, whose name is legion, in the allied armies. The ground where the attack took place being extended and very much broken up, one could not at first fully appreciate the loss of the Russians, but it is now officially known that the French alone have 2,200 Russians wounded and prisoners, the number of unwounded prisoners amounting to 400. The col lecting of the wounded took nearly two days, and most likely there are still some of them not discovered among the bushes in the neighbourhood of the river. For the burial of the dead an armistice was concluded, during which the French buried all those on this side of the river, while the Russians buried those in the plain beyond. The number of the dead is not yet officially known, but the accounts which I have heard vary from 1,500 to 1,700. Every one who saw the Russians running back could not doubt that they were thoroughly routed. The battle-field gives an additional proof of this. The Russians are very particular about carrying away their wounded and officers, especially general officers. In the late action three generals were found on the field, one mortally wounded, and two others dead. One of the dead is said to have been General Bellegarde, who was last year in the Principalities. The wounded General Read has since died of his wounds at the French head-quarters. Gortschakoff was during the action at the observatory at Mackenzie's Farm. He is said to have given the orders to retire before he knew the result of the attack; because he guessed the result from seeing the French tents still standing on the hillocks. Could he have seen inside of them he would perhaps not have given the order so quickly, for the tents alone stood, everything else—stores, ammunition, &c.—had been removed. It is confirmed on all sides that the attack • took place at the express order of the emperor. When the attack was over, and the Russians began jo retire, everybody expected something from the other side ; but when nothing came, and the Russians, after a partial attack on our centre—which, although violent enough, lasted not more than two hours—fell back, the whole attack seemed incomprehen sible. During the attack on the Tchernaya there was like wise a demonstration towards Baidar. The French cavalry had retired during the night preceding the attack and during the early part of the morning, and had occupied the ridge on which Count Tcrawsky's villa is situated, at the entrance of the valley, while the two battalions of infantry, which had been down for the protection of the passes, retired on the hills above Brujuk Miskonsia. They had scarcely gone off, when two hundred Cossacks came down into the valley, and picked up everything the French had left behind them—a number of bullocks, some biscuits, rice, and 140 loads of hay. Content with this plunder they retired again to the heights. Some changes have taken place in the commandership of the French troops at the Tchernaya. General d'Herbillon commanded during the attack as senior general of division. Now, as the Imperial Guard has been added as a reserve to the troops on the Tchernaya, General Renaud de St. Jean d'Angely takes com mand of the whole as General d'un Corps d'Armee. There is, besides, some talk of uniting the command of the allied troops on the Tchernaya in one hand. When Omar Pacha left, he gave his i nstructions to Osman Pacha. As these instructions seem to be very narrow, they throw serious impediments in the way whenever it becomes necessary to use Turkish troops. Everyone speaks with the greatest praise of the behaviour of the Sardinian troops. Their artillery rendered immense service, partly by subduing the fire of the enemy's guns in the plateau opposite, partly in crushing the columns of attack by taking them in flank. There was also a battery armed with English : position-guns, which kept firing at the Russian ar tillery on the plateau nearest to the plain. Scarcely a shot missed. Their infantry drove back the Russian riflemen on the banks of the river in the most gallant style. They ad vanced with the steadiness and precision of old troops, and made their evolutions under the fire of the enemy with as much precision as if they had been on parade. The Sardini ans also followed up immediately the retiring enemy, and took several hundred prisoners and wounded. THE BOMBARDMENT OF SWEABORG. The Moniteur of Thursday publishes the following : The additional details collected at Helsingfors confirm the statements already made respecting the losses of the enemy, which have been very considerable ; and, moreover, they make known to us the damage caused by our projectiles. Thus it was not, as supposed, only to withdraw the Russian three-decker anchored between Gustayswaard and Bakholmen that the enemy took away that vessel from the passage in which it had been placed. Hit, and perforated by the shells, that vessel was sinking, and the Russians were obliged to tow her into shallow water ; she is still there, lying over on one side, and full of water, which explains the inclined position in which she was seen from the sea. Considerable storehouses of corn and flour destined for the troops were consumed by the flames. Great fears were entertained that the allied squadrons would attack and burn the town. Persons who have visited Swea bork since the bombardment have stated that the principal buildings destroyed in the Citadel are — Two powder magazines. Two shell rnagakines. One magazine full of flax and ropes. Two storehouses, containing corn and flour for the troops. One pitch manufactory. One large house, containing hospital stores for the army. Seventeen private houses. The house of the Governor-General and his Chancery. Eighteen vessels hit in the basins. The granite quays are damaged by the shells. Finally, the shells which fell on board the man-of-war wounded 96 men, who were conveyed to the town hospital, but the number of killed is not known. The number of killed acknowledged is 2,000, but it is sup posed at Helsingfors that the number is much greater. At the present moment the hospital at Helsin g fo r s is f u ll of wounded from the citadel, and, not being large enough to contain all who have been brought there, it has been found necessary to lodge them with the inhabitants. THE BALTIC. ATTACK ON BRANDON, IN THE GULF OF BOTHNIA INTREPID CONDUCT OF LIEUT. BURSTALL. HER MAJESTY'S STEAMER FIREFLY, Ledsund, Aug. 20. On Wednesday, the Ist of August, the two paddle-box boats of the Firefly, and the captain's gig, left the ship at Korsoren, which is at the estuary of the inlet leading to Wasa, and pulled up to Brandon (12 miles), the seaport and great depot for shipping; here they cut out a barque and towed her two and a half miles out and anchored her, when two Russian soldiers (deserters) came off to them and brought infor mation that the troops had left Brandon to go to Wasa, thinking that an attack would be made on that town. Captain Otter pulled back to the ship on Thursday, when the Firefly weighed, and, after a great deal of difficulty in finding the channels, arrived at Brandon at midnight, where she anchored about 400 yards from the town, and a little island off it, on which were a great many storehouses of tar, resin, and a great quantity of timber. The boats landed on the island, and broke open the storehouses, expecting to find the rigging and sails of the barque, but, failing in this, they sent a message to the owner (Mr. Wolff) at Wasa, requesting him to give them up, or else his stores would be burnt as soon as the wind shifted (to prevent the fire com municating to the town). Pending his reply, Lieutenant Burstal went in charge of the two paddle-box boats, and scoured some islands and inlets, where he discovered five vessels secreted. The first was an old schooner, which was hauled out, and, as it was a fair wind, he sent her with two men to the ship, and then went and found four very fine new ships, two barques from 400 to 550 tons, and two brigs about 220 tons, quite new. The owners, seeing our movements, had sent out some men to scuttle them, but they had not time enough to do it, so, having plugged up the holes, Lieutenant Burstal left them in charge of Mr. Bull, in the paddle-box boat, while he returned to the ship to report progress. By this time the schooner was taken alongside the store house island, and a party of men were employed clearing the stores and putting them on board of her. In the afternoon some of the inhabitants had cautioned our people against remaining on the island, as troops were expected every moment. However, no notice was taken of it, and at half-past 7 o'clock Mr. Haim came off with the working party, who were relieved by another party in charge of Lieutenant Burstal. After he had visited the sentries and seen all the people at work, at about half-past 8 o'clock Captain Otter went on shore to see how things were getting on, and while conversing on a conspicuous ' position on the island, about ten minutes after landing, a tremendous fire of musketry from the houses, sheds, and behind the rocks near the town opened on us ; the rifle balls and splinters of planks flying about like hail, but, fortu nately, no one was touched. The working party hurried down to the boats, which were near the schooner, and all got safely on board the Firefly, which immediately after the first volley of musketry, opened her fire upon wherever the musketry came from. On the way off to the ship the boats were struck several times. In the hurry consequent on the sudden firing there were left on board the schooner seven muskets. The paddle-box boat (which was away getting a barque out about two miles off) soon came up and opened fire upon the town, and threw shells into the woods among the troops. The ship was engaged with them from nine p.m. till five the next morn ing ; the enemy's fire was nearly silenced at 11 o'clock, with the exception of a stray shot now and then. The schooner was completely riddled, and hopes are entertained that the muskets are destroyed, for it would have been highly impru dent to send a boat to her, being within 250 yards of her guns. At six a.m. the Firefly steamed off a mile and a half, and took away the largest barque and burnt the three others she had taken, one pierced for twenty guns. Hav ing towed the barque out, and anchored near the former prize, it came on to blow and rain. The bad weather continued till Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday night information was obtained that the enemy had received a rein forcement of 800 men and eight large guns, and that they had twenty-five men killed and eighteen in hospital wounded, but, as the storehouses were not burnt, it became necessary to keep the promise of doing so ; therefore, on Wednesday the Firefly went in and fired at 1,500 yards with hot shot at the island ; but some batteries had been erected in the mean time, which replied to us. The red-hot shot had the effect of setting fire to the storehouses, which very soon made a tremendous conflagration. Late in the afternoon the paadle box boat, with Lieutenant Ward, went in to reconnoiter and attempt to fire another part of the island to expedite the destruction, but he opened fire on the schooner, which had been shifted to the main land ; he continued firing until he saw troops about 250 yards off, who opened fire on the boat, which was struck several times ; and had it not been for a hammock as a barricade, he (Lieutenant Ward) would have been struck. The paddle-box boat was then recalled, and about seven p.m. the Firefly weighed, and stood in a little closer to give them a parting salute, which brought out the fire of some heavy field guns and an immense number of rifles, which sent their missiles on board, over a-head and astern, but no one was hit. Several shells were droppped among them, and at half past nine we fired a parting shot, having expended nearly all our ammunition, and leaving the storehouse a mass of flames. No account has been received of the Russian loss on the second day. The' Firefly took her two barques in tow, and got them safely to Ledsund. The weather in the Gulf of Bothnia seems to have broken up, and a succession of gales from all quarters is now a frequent occurrence. We reckon we have burnt about 820,000 worth of storehouses, besides tar and timber ; captured two fine barques, and burnt five very fine new ships. A list of vessels and property belonging to the enemy taken or destroyed by her Majesty's ship Firefly from the Ist to the 11th of August, 1855 :—The Fides, barque, 300 tons ; cargo 228 barrels of tar ; cut out of Wasklot, near Brandon. The Precioso, barque, 420 tons; cargo, none; cut out of Wasklot, near Brandon. A barque, 300 tons ; cargo, none ; burnt in a creek near Brandon ; pierced for 20 guns, not quite finished. A brig, 230 (?) tons; cargo none, burnt as above. A schooner, 230 (?) tons ; cargo none, burnt as above. A flat, 15 tons ; cargo, firewood. A boat, 10 tons ; cargo, salt. A sloop, 20 tons; cargo, 8 tons of salt and 5 bales of cotton. ;The Island Smoltan, near Brandon, having 50 to 70 magazines, containing coals, tar, resin, salt, spars, boats, &c. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. A second supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday, September 4, contains the following despatch from General Simpson, dated Before Sebastopol, Aug. 25 MY LORD,—Having been engaged since daylight in a care ful observation of the position in front of Balaklava, I am unable to address your Lordship at any length to-day. The enemy have been concentrating troops at the Mackenzie, Tasova, and Karales, their left extending as far as the village of Makoul, and are supposed to have received considerable re inforcements, which probably consist of two divisions of Grenadiers, which have been conveyed in carts from Bak shiserai and Simpheropol. The bridge across the Great Harbour is nearly completed, and large bodies of men are employed in erecting earthworks on the north side of the harbour. Entrenchments have been thrown up on the Severnaya-hill, extending from the sea coast to the site of the first lighthouse, facing the north. From various sources we learn that the Russians on the right bank of the Tchernaya are held in perfect readiness for an offensive movement. Our siege operations progress steadily, with, I regret to say, heavy casualties on our side, as your lordship will see by the accompanying lists.—l have, &c., JAMES SIMPSON, General Commanding. The total casualties are-2 sergeants, 24 rank and file, killed; 8 officers, 6 sergeants, 168 rank and file, wounded. The Invalide Russe publishes the following extracts from Prince Gortschakoff's diary of the siege from the 14th to the 18th of August:— "The fire of the enemy before Sebastopol, from the 2nd to 6th (14th-18th) of August, which was very heavy at times, became almost incessant after nightfall. The besiegers throw in a great quantity of hollow shells against the works of the town. " On the 4th (16th) the fire against the town was slack. "On the sth (17th) at 4 30 a.m., the enemy opened a new cannonade and bombardment. They had succeeded, for this object, in placing a large number of mortars i n th e i r neares t trenches. The fire of the besiegers was directed against the Karabelnaia, and the works which defend that part of the town. " On our side, despite the violence of this bombardment, the artillery of the town replied with constant success, and with no less energy than that of the enemy, and by its well-directed fire, silenced on the sth (17th) some of their batteries, and de stroyed the embrasures of others. The serious damage done to our fortifications was repaired by us as well as posssble, although the incessant fire at short range of the besiegers con siderably delays the works. " Our losses, which were moderate during the first three days, were considerable on the sth (17th".) CAPTURE OF PET.ROPAULOWSKI. WE have received accounts of the destruction of Petro paulowski by the Anglo-French squadron, which we extract from the Alta California :—" The Allied fleet, consisting of eight war vessels and steamers, arrived off Petropaulowski on the 15th May, but the garrison had already left the Amoor River, in the Russian frigate Aurora, corvette Dwina, and two merchant vessels. The escape of the garrison was a master-stroke on the part of the Russians, who availed them selves of a dense fog which set in on the night of the 17th April, and so eluded the English war-steamers Encounter, (screw,) of 14 guns, and Barracouta, (side-wheel,) of 6 guns, which had been blockading the harbour for fifty days previous. The orders to evacuate were received from the Russian head quarters in Siberia. On anchoring in the harbour a detach ment was sent on shore by the commanders of the fleets, Rear-Admiral Bruce, of the English, and Rear-Admiral Fourichon, (a newly-appointed and exceedingly energetic man of only forty-five years of age,) of the French. They landed and found the town deserted, save by about a hundred Kamschatka dogs, a French naturalized American, and two Americans, who raised the stars and stripes over their houses when the forces landed, claiming that as the Russians bad abandoned the place and left it to them they were the possessors of the soil. These men are engaged in trading, and are represented as doing a good business. The dogs were in a starving condi tion, and followed the invaders about the town for bits of THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD biscuits. One of them was brought away by Commander Rosencoat, of the Obligado. The parties were divided into companies, proceeded to burn, blow up, and destroy the arse nals, storehouses, and all government buildings. Not a ves tige of any public work was left standing, except the hospital, which, with the church and the dwellings of the poorer classes of the inhabitants, was left untouched. The inhabitants com menced deserting the place shortly after the garrison embarked. Accompanied by the authorities, they started on or about the 20th April towards Tchinsk ; but the Governor's wife being enceinte, the flight continued only to the small fishing village of Avache, some twenty miles inland. The following day, after the arrival of the allies, the destruction of the fortifications commenced. These were fascines, constructed of immense logs—the walls being sixteen feet in thickness. Such was their strength, they resisted all efforts for some time, and were finally razed to the ground by the agency of powder. It ap pears that the policy of the Russian government had changed rather suddenly in this matter. After the battle of last year orders came for strengthening the forts ; and though at that time such a resistance was made as to repel the assail ants, there being but one tier of guns, it was ordered to in crease it to a double tier. The destroyers found embrasures for fifty-one guns of heavy calibre. Why this sudden change of policy took place may, perhaps, be explained by that on which the Russians have always acted—of retiring into the in terior from their invaders, and avoiding decisive engagements. This time, however, they have made nothing by the movement, and, with the increased strength of the place, it would seem that they might have made a more obstinate resistance than before. The fleets did not leave the place until the demolition was complete. The fleet sailed, with the exception of the Trincomalee, on board of which were left two Russian prisoners, whom it was proposed to exchange for a French sailor, whose arms were amputated after being taken prisoner in the battle of last year. The American residents there report that they have lived in perfect peace and friendship with the inhabitants up to the day of their departure, and that the French and En glish prisoners were treated with humanity. We have been shown a despatch dated in Petropaulowski, from Rear-Admiral Fourichon, of the French fleet, in which he states, after briefly recapitulating the facts above enumerated, that the Russian garrison (as Le Journel informs us) some 1,200 men, had doubtless sailed for the mouth of the Amoor river, which drains the southern portion of Siberia, and flows into the Gulf of Sag halien, an arm of the Sea of Ochetsk. They left for this point on the 17th April, and were doubtless there before the French and English arrived at Kamschatka. This river is regarded as the dividing line between China and. Asiatic Russia, and at its mouth is a very strong series of fortifications, which have been greatly strengthened from time to time by the Russians. It is thought by some of the officers of the Obligado that the immense armament of Petropaulowski was carried there with the garrison ; and if this be true, there will be a western Sebastopol, which may puzzle the allies as much as the stronghold of the Crimea. The fleets have gone to cruise for the present among the Aleutian Islands, and will probably look in at Sitka. An English and French squadron have proceeded by the China Sea to the mouth of the Amoor river, where, the despatch says, there will soon be severe fighting. There are about ten ships of war in these fleets, which would be joined by the steamer Brisk, now at Petropaulowski. The line of battle-ship Monarch is the flag-ship of the English fleet. We learn that the above squadrons will join at Petro paulowski, whence they will proceed to this port for provisions; they may be expected in about three weeks. The officers of the Obligado think they will separate,. the English making a rendezvous at Vancouver's Island, and the French here ; both fleets, however, will come directly to this port. Their arrival will increase business to a considerable extent. The English frigates Pique and Amphitrite have sailed for the Sea of Ochotsk, to join the rest of the fleet; also the two steamers which were formerly employed in blockading Petro paulowski. The French steamer Prowy will be here in a few days. The fleets will sail to the Amoor river after provision ing and fitting out at this port. Rear-Admiral Bruce, while at Petropaulowski, caused a handsome fence to be erected around the cemetery in which were buried the bodies of the killed of the Russians and Allies, in the battle of last year. A large tablet, bearing a Russian inscription in commemora tion of the fight, was erected, which, as it refers to all alike, will doubtless be respected when the Russian inhabitants return. The country, when the fleets approached, presented a grand and sublime picture. The lofty mountains, from their peaks down to the very shore, were clad in a mantle of snow ; the cold was not severe. All was gloomy, silent, and desolate. It snowed almost incessantly for three weeks while the Obli gado was there. The brig left Valparaiso for the Sandwich Islands ; proceeded thence to Kamtschatka, and thence here. She has seen some very severe weather at the North." The Alta California, of a later date, adds the following particulars—" We learn from the Russian consul, M. Kos tromithoff, that the intelligence published in the morning papers of yesterday is untrue as regards the evacuation of Sitka by the Russian residents. It will be remembered that there is now a convention existing between the Hudson Bay Company and the Russian American Company, which was celebrated at St. Petersburg and London, by the provisions of which this portion of the Russian possessions is exempted from hostilities. Consequently, there could be no danger of the Allied fleets committing any depredations ; nor is the Governor of Sitka, or his officials, so ignorant of the chivalry of the French and English marine as to suppose that they would override the stipulations of the British government, and attack a defenceless place. True, the French have not entered into this treaty, but the very inhumanity of the destruction of a trading post, occupied by harmless in habitants, and almost defenceless in guns and men, would be enough to ensure its safety. The movements of the allied fleets in the Pacific, up to this time, have been characterised by a commendable regard to the behests of humanity. On the arrival of the fleet, the Brisk was sent in to communicate with the shore. The Governor sent off his secretary to state that he hoped the provisions of the convention would be observed, as the place was without the means of defence, and unprepared to make any resistance. The commander of the Brisk replied that they had only enteredthe place to ascertain if the Dwina or Aurora were there; in which case the French fleet would have cut them out; but no harm was intended to the town. The reports regarding the starving condition of the Russian American Commercial Company we learn from Mr. Beverley C. Sanders to be also unfounded. Provisions were plenty. Mr. Berlin, one of the directors of the company, went on board the Alceste, on her arrival, and obtained facts which are at variance with those published on the following morn ing." The climate at present of Sitka Island is mild and agreeable, though occasional fogs appear, like those seen off our own coast. The mountains rising from the immediate vicinity of the coast are clothed with dense forests of pine and cedar. Farther back, they ascend into the regions of perpetual snow, and in clear weather present the grandest scene imaginable. The town contains a population of about 1,000, a mixture of whites and Indians. This country was taken possession of by the celebrated Russian buccaneer Schelehoff, in 1778. The harbour is excellent, and will easily accommodate hundreds of ships. We learn that the operations of the Ice Company have produced a marked effect upon the business of the place. The inhabitants were peacefully pursuing their daily avocations when the fleet left. No panic had existed, nor had any of them fled into the interior. It was reported that Sitka was in virtual possession of the American Ice Company, who reported that the Russian inhabitants, after learning the intended visit of the allied fleet to the place, notwithstanding the treaty of protection, abandoned the place and fled into the interior. We learn that the Ice Company was in a starving condition, having been in daily expectation of a vessel from San Fran cisco loaded with provisions. This was nine days ago, and the vessel had not arrived when the fleet left. Nothing had been heard at Sitka of the ship Zenobia. From the above facts we presume no ice will be received in town for several days to come, and a similar state of affairs with that of July, 1852, be experienced. The San Francisco Transcript furnishes some further particulars. " The fleet arrived at Sitka in twenty-three days from Petropaulowski, and sailed on the 13th instant, for thi s port. The number of soldiers in the place never exceeded 100 men, who were kept there merely as a protection against the Indians, and the fortifications, it was well undestood, were intended for no other purpose." H.B.M. frigate Pique, Captain Nicholson, had sailed for the river Amoor, the Russian possessions in Asia, and thence for China. The British frigate Dido and steamer Brisk. were to touch at Vancouver's Island, thence to San Francisco. THE BALTIC FLEET. (FROM THE PRESS.) IN the Baltic the fleet are beginning to shift their cruising ground. The bad wheather has commenced, the blockading squadron before Cronstadt has already experienced a heavy gale of wind, and has shifted its berth. The vacillation of the Government, and the imbecile management of Sir Charles Wood and his Board, seem to have metamorphosed all our fighting Admirals into the meekest and most timid of men. " Impossible," a word unknown in the vocabulary of the last war, appears to be imprinted on the mind of every Admiral in this. The Government have spent milions on this Baltic fleet; they had all the vast resources of the country at their disposal, and all the experience of '54 to guide them, and yet, in a whole summer, they can only achieve a single bombard ment of an arsenal and capture a few paltry vessels ! Sir Charles Wood and his Board seem bent upon blunders. No sooner do they discover, in the last week of the season for active operations in the Baltic, that the contemptible supply of mortars which they originally sent out to demolish all the Russian fortresses have been used up in a partial bombardment of the first, than they immediately order a ship round to Woolwich, load her with mortars, and despatch her to the stction. Very admirable energy, under ordinary circumstances, but, in the face of their Admiral's declaration that the season was too far advanced for any further operations, and that the mortar-boats were en route for England, very questionable management. Arrived at Kiel, this ship, the Sanspareil, lay there for some days with the mortars in her hold, when, as might have been expected, came an order from Admiral Dundas for her to return home at once, as the mortar boats had left the station, and the weather was too bois terous for further operations. So, home comes the Sans pareil, no market for their mortars being found in the Baltic. This playing at cross purposes between Admiralty and Admiral betrays a want of unanimity of action and con formity of plan disgraceful to the administrative ability of "My Lords. The official " cat," in this case, clearly resides at Whitehall. Admiral Dundas, some weeks before, had stated that the season was over for operations ; but the Admiralty hoped, by this display of unwonted energy, to cover their primary discreditable mismanagement in not having supplied the fleet with an ample reserve of mortars in the first instance. This very "weak invention" is seen through at a glance. We never had a very high opinion of the administrative talents of the present Board of Admiralty; but their management of the home resources for the supply of the Baltic fleet this year inflicts more disgrace upon them than any of the previous many maladministrations they have been guilty of in their official career. MR. CHARLES DICKENS is expected to give a reading for the benefit of the Mechanics' Institution at Sheffield, during the month of December. A BALLOON, sent up at Sheffield a few days ago, travelled as far as Chard, in Somersetshire, a distance of about 200 miles, and occupied only about two hours and three quarters in the voyage. THE Bristol Gazette states that a skeleton, supposed to be that of woman, has been discovered by some workmen, about a foot below the surface of the ground, at Banwell. Some suppose the person to have been murdered, but there is at present no evidence to warrant the conclusion. THE Paris Pointe says that the Czar is endeavouring to re-establish his former friendly relations with the Helvetic confederation, which have been estranged since 1848, when the Emperor Nicholas refused to recognise the new federal constitution.. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICA. By the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-ship America, Captain Lang, which arrived on Sunday, we have intelligence from Boston to the 29th ult. The America brought 131 passengers and 8847,408 in specie. A terrible accident occurred on the 27th, on the New York and Philadelphia Railroad. Twenty-three persons were killed and seventy wounded. Among the killed was Baron de St. Andr4, French consul at Philadelphia. The late Mr. Abbott Lawrence had bequeathed $130,000 to various societies. Mr. James C. Thompson, proprietor of the extensive ma chine works on Quay-street, Albany, had received an offer to assume the chief-engineership of the Russian Navy, and was at Washington making the necessary arrangements with the Russian Minister. The offer was made for three years at a salary of $6,000 per annum with house rent free, and had been made in consequence of'the resignation of Mr. Cham bers, a Scotchman, who had held that position for the past eighteen years. Mr. Thompson was, for five years, first engineer on the steamer Pacific, of the Collins line. Advices from the Great Salt Lake City report that the grasshoppers had destroyed the third crop of grain, and star vation or an abandonment of the settlements were the alter natives presented to the Mormons. At Olympia (Washington territory) great excitement pre vailed relative to the discovery of rich gold fields at Fort Col ville, in about 48 degrees latitude, or nearly 250 miles from Pugest Sound. At Norfolk, on the 27th, there were thirty-five deaths from fever during the forty-eight hours previously to noon of that day. At New Orleans the deaths in the city during the week previously to the 27th were 471, including 357 deaths from yellow fever, being a decided decline. The New York Evening Express of the 28th says, " The yellow fever continues to desolate—we had almost said decimate —the stricken cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. Awful as were the incidents attending the New Orleans epidemic, the summer before last, the melancholy particulars we publish elsewhere,—the latest to hand,—throw these sombre reminiscences into the shade. And the worst of it all is, there is no abatement, no prospect even of abatement, as yet. This is terrible. Be it the part of those who are afar off and in safety to continue their contributions in aiii of the sick and the suffering poor." Up to the 23rd the yellow fever was not prevalent in Mobile. A Baltimore physician writes from Nor folk, on the 25th, as follows :—" I arrived here yesterday safely, and went immediately to work. The statements in the papers in regard to the epidemic are not exaggerated; on the contrary, they do not convey a true idea of the actual condition of things. You cannot imagine a more sad and me lancholy spectacle than Norfolk presents at this moment. The houses and places of business are all closed—two-thirds of the inhabitants fleeing or fled—the streets and market-places deserted—and gloom, and fear, and consternation every where. Accompanied by Doctor Thompson, I last night, after ten o'clock, called to see a couple of patients, and I assure you that though we passed through the principal streets we did not meet or see a single soul during our journey. Our footsteps sounded and resounded ominously upon the pavements. Not a single light could be seen in the houses by which we passed ; it only needed a glimpse in the moonlight of a jackal' or vulture to realise the picture of an eastern plague-stricken city. The disease is not abating in the least. From all that I can learn I am convinced that there are at least 600 down with it. This, in a population now reduced to 8,000, is fearful. In the hotel where we are stopping there are ten patients—one death took place last night. The heat is intense, and the atmos phere at night heavily charged with malaria. I have suffered all the morning with a very severe headache, and Thompson says my eyes are affected; but I have no fears. The head ache I attribute to the oppressive state of the atmosphere. The disease is of a more peculiar character, and strange to say nearly all the cases present the same symptoms In the onset you have all the indication of our common bilious fever—but the treatment must, it appears, be totally different. All my cases are, so far, progressing favourably—but the disease is so insidious in its workings, that though everything may look favourable, you cannot prognosticate a happy result." The New Orleans Bulletin, of the 21st, says :—" The most interesting intelligence that we can communicate to our absent friends is, the sanitary condition of our city. We grieve to say that the weather is, and has been for some days past, as unpropitious for any mitigation of the epidemic as it well can be. Northern winds have prevailed for the most part during the past week ; the nights and mornings are unseasonably cool, such as we generally experience in October, while (with the exception of yesterday, which was somewhat moderate) the heat at mid-day is excessively oppressive. The conse quence has been, as was to be expected, an increase in the number of deaths from yellow fever for the past week. The number of deaths from yellow fever for the week foot up 394, against 291 for the week previously. The total number of deaths from all diseases for the week ending on the 19th, was 517, against 413 for the week ending on the 12th instant. It is a mistaken impression which prevails among some of our people, that the present epidemic is less violent, and attended with less mortality than any that has preceded it. Excepting the fatal year of 1853, the reverse is the fact. The deaths from yellow fever for the week ending on the 20th of August, 1847, were 296 ; total deaths from all diseases, 415. For the week ending 20th August, 1854, the deaths from yellow fever were 118. The greatest number of yellow fever interments in any one week in 1854, was for the week ending September 24th, when they amounted to 311—fifty-three less than for the week just passed. The week in 1853 corresponding with the present one was the most fatal one ever known in New Orleans ; the deaths from yellow fever in that week reached the terrible figure of 1,442 ; the total deaths were 1,571. This day two years ago was the blackest day in death's calendar— the number of deaths on that day, including" those for which there were no certificates, was 318 !" CALIFORNIA.—The George Law has arrived at New York from Aspinwall, with $1,285,616 in specie, and advices from California to the Ist of August. The Golden Age sailed from San Francisco on the Ist ult., with $1,600,000 on freight, of which $312,284 was on English account. A line of telegraph had been erected between Aspinwall and Panama, and was in successful operation. The health of the isthmus was good. There had been but little rain, and the railroad was in excellent condition. H.M.S. Monarch, 84, and President, 62, and the French vessels La Forte, Eurydice, Alceste, and Obligado were in the harbour of San Francisco. A fire broke out in the town on the 18th, which destroyed about $30,000 worth of property. Agreeable to notice through the daily newspapers, a meeting of the preliminary committee of the Immigration Society, and those favouring the objects of the society, had been held in San Francisco. The attendance was quite large, and included many of the most prominent and influential citizens, all of whom seemed to be desirous of lending the movement their cordial support. The objects of the meeting were :-1. To disseminate continually and systematically information of the soil, climate, agricultural products, yields of crops, &c., of Cali fornia. 2. By business negotiations to reduce the price of passage to California, and to multiply the means of transport. 3. To produce employment for immigrants immediately on their arrival, at some rate, however low, so that they may not go idling about and get disgusted while they are yet on the threshold. The mining news continued cheering, and prospects were never better for the working man. The largest portion of the Allied fleets, including the Monarch, Captain G. Patey; the President, Commander Barridge ; Eurydice, Obligado, La Forte, and Alceste, had returned to San Francisco, after visiting Petropaulowski, and finding the place entirely deser ted by the Russians. The officers of the French and English vessels were to receive a number of complimentary balls from the citizens of San Francisco during their stay in the harbour, and in return they nye to give like entertainments on board their vessels. A number of sick seamen were landed from the French frigate La Forte. Most of them were affected with symptoms of scurvy. They were taken to the French hospital. The crops in some portions of the State were represented as being rather inferior, while in other parts they would probably come fully up to previous expectation. The general product of the mines was equal to any previous period. Business, although not as brisk as in former years, was quietly and steadily recovering from the financial shock which it ex perienced a few months back. A great fire had taken place at Stocklin. At Los Angelas an earthquake had done consider able damage. Mexico.—Accounts from Vera Cruz to the 22nd ult. report that Santa Anna left the city of Mexico on the 9th ult., signed his abdication at Perote, and proceeded to Vera Cruz, where he embarked on the 17th ult. for Havana. He was escorted in his flight by 2,500 troops ; but shortly after leaving the capital one-third of them revolted, killed several of the officers, and then joined the revolutionists. On arriving at Vera Cruz another revolt broke out ; but not a single regiment continued faithful to their fallen chief, and the mutineers, vanquished, fled in confusion. With regard to the reconstruction of the Government, our intelligence is very brief. It appears, how ever, that the plan of Alvarez has been adopted, and that General Carro is Provisional President, and General La Vega commander-in-chief of the army. Santa Anna left the capital on the pretence of quelling the insurrection in Vera Cruz. The office of the Universel, and forty other buildings, had been demolished by the populace during the excitement conse quent upon Santa Anna's departure. The military interfered, killing forty persons, and wounding a large number. The statue of Santa Anna had been torn down and trampled upon by the people. Delegates met in the city of Mexico on the 10th inst., who chose Gen. Carro President for six months, and also ordained the liberty of the press. - Later advices from the Rio Grande state that the revolu tionists were awaiting to hear of the downfal of Santa Anna, and were consequently inactive. CllBA.—Advices to the 23rd, state that H.M.S. Daring was at Vera Cruz, for the purpose of embarking Santa Anna on his arrival, and that a Spanish steamer had likewise been placed at his service. Sickness was on the increase, but it was principally confined to the soldiers. Sugar buyers were active, admitting advanced rates. Molasses were scarce, and at high prices. Freights for sugar 4s. per box; $1 hhd. molasses Exchange on London firm. The British brig-of-war, Arab, arrived off the harbour on the 16th, and reported having ex perienced very heavy weather at sea. Some anxiety was experienced for the safety of the British mail steamer Wye, which was nine days overdue from Vera Cruz. The Chicago Tribune, of the 24th, says :—" Revelations have been made to us, by one who is entitled to know the designs of the Kinney expedition, which leave no room for doubt that a descent upon Cuba is the ultimate object of the party now in Greytown, and their friends and backers in the States. To this end they are now building vessels, purchasing stores, and enlisting recruits all along our Atlantic coast, though the latter are gathered principally in Louisiana and other slave states. Their efforts are seconded by the Cuban Juntas in New York and New Orleans, which furnish the principal part of the funds needed for the enterprise." The Daniel Webster had arrived at New York from Punta Arenas with $712,000 in specie. A terrific hurricane swept over the Mosquito coast on the night of the 14th instant, by which the British sloop-of-war Wolverine became.a total loss. The cholera had abated in Nicaragua, but not until it had swept away nearly all the Government forces, and the re mainder of the troops had been centred at Grenada. The epidemic had also visited Leon, and the revolutionary army suffered much from its attacks. The Costa Ricans kept up a strict quarantine both by land and water. The best interests of Nicaragua are represented as in a very perilous position. The Accessory Transit Company had a party of armed men at Castillo in order to watch Colonel Kinney s movements. It was reported that Generals Gardiola and Lopez, with two hundred men from ' P ua temala, had attacked Honduras, and routed General Cabanas. It was also said that Colonel Kin ney had made au attack on Rivas. The revolutionists from Leon had attacked Managua, but were repulsed. Greytown (rebuilt) was looking well, and all the sufferers by the late bombaNment, from the British Vice-Consul downwards, were preparing to submit their claim for damages to Congress. Colonel Walker had marched into Costa Rica, and, after some negotiations, gave up his arms to the authorities, who guaranteed him protection from the Nicaraguans. However, in a short time after the latter seized 20 of his men, when the Costa Ricans raised 1,600 soldiers, and sent a demand for their delivery. There is nothing of interest from the Sandwich Islands. The King has dissolved the legislature. The appropriation bill voted by the house exceeded the revenue about $200,000, and the King refused to sanction direct taxation to make up the deficit. He has ordered a new election, and parliament was called to meet at Honolulu on the 30th of July. From Jamaica we have advices to the 14th August. A serious riot had occurred in Kingston, between the negro soldiers stationed in the barracks, and the people and police. The soldiers had assaulted the citizens wantonly. Trade was inactive. The State of Panama had imposed a duty of 50 cents. per ton on sailing vessels, and 25 cents. on steamers ; also a duty of one dollar on each passenger. From Hayti we learn that money, coffee, and logwood were scarce. Dates to the 11th of June had been received from the Society Islands. King Tammatoa, who was ousted by a revolt under Tamarri, had been restored to the government of the kingdom of Raeatea and Tahaa, by a counter movement on the part of his subjects. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, 28th Aug. MONEY still continued abundant, and confidence in every department of commerce and finance was steadily gaining ground. Exchange was firm at the following quotations : London, 109 i, 110, to 1101; Paris, 5.121 to 5.111; Amster dam, 411 to 412 ; Bremen, 791 to 79i ; Hamburg, 361 to 361; Antwerp, 5.15 to 5.121. COTTON.—The business in the cotton market, says Mr. W. P. Wright in his circular, dated New York, Aug. 28, has con tinued to be very limited, the daily sales not exceeding a few hundred bales taken by domestic consumers. Holders show considerable firmness, and the quotations submitted are those at which no large transactions could be entered upon without causing an immediate advance, while in some instances small lots had been sold at /c. to Ic. less. Freight to Liverpool dull at 5-32ds. A great change has taken place in the accounts received this week from every section of the cotton growing region as far west as Mobile. Rain, so much to be dreaded at this period, has been falling freely, accompanied by an unusual degree of cold, and though no damage has been done but what could be made up by very seasonable weather, the prospects for a good crop are much jeopardised. The accounts from Alabama are more serious than elsewhere, and at the latest dates, by telegraph from Mobile, rain was still prevalent. We have yet to hear of the country tributary to New Orleans. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS, EXPORTS, AND STOCKS OF COTTON. Exports to Total Exports Stock in Receipts. Gt. Britain. to For. Ports. Hand. 1855 2,784,323 1,528,373 .. • 107,403 1854 2,883,213 1,583,462 .. 132,431 Decrease 98,890 55,089 _ :• _ _ 24,938 BEEIDSTUFFS.—The market for flour had been, very quiet, the demand being chiefly confined to the trade, and prices had declined in common qualities 12Ic. per barrel. Exporters had taken a few thousand barrels for England. In wheat southern descriptions had declined bc. to 10c. per bushel. Indian corn had advanced sc. per bushel up to the close of last week, but half of this advance had since been lost. PROVISIONS.-The quantity of every description of provi sions continued to be extremely light, and as the season ad vanced the demand seemed to increase, and cause prices to improve. Much activity and excitement prevailed in the pork market, and rates of prime and mess had considerably ad vanced. Beef firm, with sales of about 200 bbls., closing at Saturday's quotations all round. Prime mess was in moderate demand, at $22 to $25. Butter and cheese were without change of moment in quotations. Coat.-The receipts of foreign continued small, and the market was firm. Hard was steady at previous rates. 1a,0x.-The market was very firm, with sales of 300 to 400 tons. Scotch pig at $32 cash, and $33 to $34 six months, and holders now demand $32 50c. cash, and $35 six months, the stock being much reduced, and the ships hither light. There is considerable inquiry for railroad iron, and some 2,200 tons Welsh have been sold at $62 60c. cash, mostly for future delivery. American pig was held firmly, and prices tended upward. 100 tons American wrought scrap brought $36 cash ; and English sheet was firm, and some numbers scarce. FREIGHTS remain inactive to Liverpool:-Flour, ls. to ls. 3d.; grain, 4d. to 4 3 / 4 d.; cotton, 5.32 d. to 3-16. ; dead weight, 12s. 6d. to 15s. ; provisions, ls. 3d. to 2s. To London : -Flour. ls. 3d.. to Is. 61 per barrel; grain, sd. to 52d. per bushel; naval stores, ls. 6d. to ls. 9d.; dead weight, 12s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. ; measurement goods, 2s. to 2s. 3d. ; provisions, 2s. to 2s. 3d. To Glasgow :-Flour, is. 9d. to 2s. ; grain, 6d. to 6 3 / 4 d. To Havre :-Flour, 40c. to 50c. per barrel ; grain, 9c. to 10c. per bushel. By Electric Telegraph NEW YORIC, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30.—European news via Halifax was published here yesterday at three o'clock. Money to-day was dearer. Flour and corn firm. Wheat de clined 2d. Cotton firm and unchanged; sales [query —two days ?] 1,000 bales. NEW ORLEANS, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 2H.—Cotton, lower;c. sales to-day, 3,500; middling (new) quoted 9c. to 9k. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. CANADA.—There has been much excitement lately among the Huron Indians. and a good deal of ill-feeling manifested by some of them against the government. This unhappy state of affairs was occasioned by a misapprehension of some late acts of the Government, but more especially by the in triguing of a Methodist preacher, who took an active part in fomenting disaffection and discord among them for his own advantage. As the affair began to assume a serious aspect, the Indians having forbidden surveyors to approach their territory, it was determined by his Excellency the Governor- General that a grand council should be held, in order to try and arrange matters. A council was held, therefore, at Table River, on the 19th ult., at which Viscount Bury and suite were present on the part of the government, and about 150 Indians, delegates from various tribes. The discussions were very animated, but the difficulties were settled in a manner satisfactory to all parties, except the preacher and a few of his satellites. Everything in the political way is especially dull. Now and then violent spasmodic efforts are made to get up an excitement about the Maine Anti-liquor Law, or some kindred humbug, but without success. WEST INDIES.—The Atrato arrived at Southampton on Thursday with the West India and Pacific mails. Her dates are Jamaica, August 11 ; Demerara, 16th ; Trinidad, 12th ; Barbadoes, 15th ; and St. Thomas, 22nd. She brings about $500,000 in specie. The weather in:Jamaica was intensely hot, the island tranquil, and fever very prevalent. The market was dull, and bare of provisions. Exchange on London, 90 days, one per cent. premium. The yellow fever prevailed among the troops at Barbadoes. At St. Thomas the yellow fever was declining. Small-pox had appeared in many places. The Eagle, with the mails from the windward route, broke down. The mails from Demerara, Trinidad, and Barbadoes, were sent to St. Thomas in hired vessels. Exchange on London, 90 days, 54 to CAPE OF GOOD Horx.—Dates to the end of June have been received from the Cape. Business was not very brisk, but no mercantile difficulties were apprehended. The Kaffir taxes had been paid with the greatest alacrity by the natives, and realised much in excess of last year. From Port Eliza beth we learn that, during the last quarter, up to the 9th of June, the exports of wool had amounted to 1,626,252 .lbs., valued at £93,000. About 2,000 bales were lying at Graaf Reinet awaiting carriage, and some of the upper districts were in an equally bad plight, with no prospect of relief for the next few months. Wool was firm at 54d. The Orange Free State Herald states that upwards of 300 farms, to the value of about £60,000, have changed hands in little more than twelve months. The Natal coffee is much improved, and now ranks in the good marks of Ceylon. There was no change of consequence in the import trade of Cape Town. The price of Liverpool coal has advanced to £2 10s. per ton, and Liverpool salt to £3 10s. per ton, being an advance of ss. per ton on each article. for ete this ._ . n 4t i d orng m u a os i in A its u s ru summary,ALt . says: — There y i s t 1 h T e he heavy r eis ploarttli l f two weeks to our experience enables us to add to our former have come many Melbourne banks ae n tn d i kt Adelaide d n e,l haveta h i e d o et e l pte rhoirifacprice tpapers.bhotrehfa the addition the dherhe overland preomrtaiornksoofnthtehire business,g o gold-fields. The especially T h yield t all the e steadily larger gold fiincreasingfields, with the wet season. and keep . up, by a keen T e h o Thereceipts by escort of the first five months of 1854 and 1855, as compared with the shipments, are as follow : 1854. 1855. Ounces. Ounces. Receipts by escort 779,689 737,950 Shipments 930,875 990,757 Since our last summary there has not been a great amount of transactions in our import market, but the arrivals of cargoes have been few, and a further buoyancy has been imparted to many articles. Notwithstanding much undoubted tightness in money matters, a tone of increasing confidence is springing up, and the spring is looked for as the season in which our market will once more be more nearly under the legitimate sway of supply and demand than has been the case for the past two years. A great social difficulty had arisen at Adelaide, in consequence of the accumulation at the immigration depot of Irish females sent out to the colony under the regulations of the Land and Emigration Commissioners. The girls, although healthy and strong, are generally totally unfit for domestic service, and cannot find situations in private families. The government, assisted by the Catholic clergymen, intend to for ward them to depots in various parts of the country districts, where it is hoped the wants of the settlers will lead to employ ment in farm or rough household work. We doubt not that proper representations have been made to the commissioners to prevent a continuance of this kind of emigration. The wea ther during the autumn has been in the highest degree favour able to agriculture. Most of the farmers have got their seed in, and the crops look in the highest degree promising. The breadth of land under cultivation is larger than was ever known in the colony before, and there is at present every prospect of a most abundant harvest. As we have so often referred to the deficiency of rain during the past season, we may now state that the total quantity of rain during the year 1854, as indicated by the government rain-gauge, amounted to only 12-91 inches. DENMARK.-A letter from Berlin, in the Augsburg Gazette, states that the Danish government has declared itself willing to reduce the Sound-dues for all countries. It is said that Aus tria has strongly recommended Denmark to make the conces sion, and that this latter power will shortly make its inten tions known to all the states interested in the question. PnussiA.—Private letters from Berlin would seem corro borative of what has been already said of the state of the King of Prussia's health : his condition inspires considerable uneasiness. The Russian party at court are in dismay, as the death of the king would be fatal to their influence. The Prince of Prussia, it appears, keeps apart, and does not inter fere, at least ostensibly, in political affairs. ABTSSINIA.-Dr. Graph, the South African missionary, has just returned from a mission to Abyssinia from Bishop Gobat, of Jerusalem. He had several interviews with the King, who seems bent upon improving his country, and his authority is now so firmly established that he can carry his wishes into execution. The King of Abyssinia has prohibited slavery, renounced polygamy, banished the Jesuits, and is anxious that some European mechanics, particularly masons, printers, and gunmakers, should settle in his country. Mr. Plowden, our consul in Abyssinia, has taken to European clothing again, and has great influence with the King, to whom he gives good advice. An Englishman of the name of Bell is one of the first of the King's warriors, and, in battle, enjoys with three others the great honour of wearing the same apparel as the King, in order that the latter may not be distinguished by his enemies. Another Englishman, named Coffin, who has been in Abyssinia forty years, is still living there as chief of a province, and is now sixty-eight years of age. Besides these three Englishmen, there are nc Europeans in all Abyssinia. [SEPTEMBER IRELAND. out T r Z es lr i i i s i h so jo m ..--4,----- ~,„. offered sundry rewards for the detection of perse . in these offences; in the King's County and TiPPertf s Ad IN order to give increased facilities to comninn; journals di ais stri re c P t ° s rt of America, the Harbour Board of Cork have dete _, s tto exempt from tonnage dues all steam vesssels tonchl!VijO port, and conveying the mail passengers or telegrsPe' gence to and from America. AGRICULTURAL STRIKES.—The combina ti ons . ~,,, cultural labourers for higher wages have , tthheereconeuwnttaryo.f taoheyoelrodorneotoulgoi assumed the character of ribbonism, and serieu s go l oll, outrages have been the result. Threatening 7,, *-1 been again frequent. Employers are warned o il ; d t consequences if they dare to offer their men less e L„Able 1 7 .1 wages, while the labourers receive fully as int nw, te gr that punishment awaits their accepting lower tbsl!roo:.! fixed by their mysterious governors. In the Quen,kco! the county Tipperary, and Kilkenny, this state ot !;,77,41 , become a source of considerable embarassment to k tf . '" A portion of the rural inhabitants . Morning of pi, ARREST OF ONE OF THE MITRDEREES '9', the CLARKE, Esq.—lntelligence has been received 01,,,d, at Toronto, of Hawkins, charged as being the Prhi el ,so 7 4, murder of the late Patrick Clarke, Esq., which was,hili a i in October, 1845, in the open ay, d wi t .h i.r aysl3 own hall door, in the county Tipperary Tf, conr . l murder, two men, named Rice and Hayes, we tord iT h a at i in lin te agfhoneifollows therein, oewwlsi cen:i eh b oha u nvl t e de a t nhlteaeevtpeerr occasioni Kelly'snc ceasedip ar ,reffectedewath,theires as search r faree i ewh e s as P f u...,i , e ,;,,,5et :0 00e : 00 4 in certain ak tl3 l heth boastedepperarfollowing y , i n to at hill account us ß ne u pt r rt of o m u ab g e h srh t io h ol t ns 4 11 e 7a. was the .Ilieuithi' who shot Patrick Clarke, Esq., deputy-lieutena nt new.prini...ol.lo., p i , n Ori tr i NOVELTY IN SECIFBUILDING.—The Co'A --4.-- ship, with an auxiliary screw propeller, now ''"'„ alo ;l' boar, built on a new and curious principle, A ° ;ol l . A believe, she is the first constructed. She is Wh..,,--, 0,- 6 iron, being framed and put together in the " - „tisav 4 7 the Britannia Tubular Bridge, without knee. .s c) ,' 6 0 d, of any kind in her hull. A plank deck is la l ' -C fi v , 04.4,j , bsb sense p ea u ed m ov fa p n e t d a g, timbers, r in one, and on this are a couple of large deck O nt cr , '"ir o ", ,Thtazo The name extent reqw.dt"tber of stowing ballast, in the usual way, she i 5 5, 0 ;40 1 ' water-tight compartments in her hull, into s , r l " P m e "11 05 ,,,; &c., she h e a f s th sto e v rag ess e e L; ; O:, ' tackle is worked by steam machinery, su e ) ,,4,70 0 ,' °1 city for a large amount of manual labour . P vV ot oo„,"" fr bal i b ts eala el ms f: : cargo, though measuring little over 400 tons - 71 c 't 7 ,,V and she is bound for Singapore, being intenu„e stand, for trade in the Chinese seas. Eater . ' s ante is very singular, from the convexit nautical phrase, she " tumbles home" alo' manner. AN EXTRAORDINARY SKELETON.-Th , of a "marvellous discovery" is related in t "We have been informed, but what exaci lity we should give to the statement we say, that in the progress of the formation way, some of the labourers discovered, beneath the surface of the earth, within Askeaton, a gigantic skeleton, eleven feel the remains was found a vessel, with an i dicating that someting would be found Following this intimation, they uncove) something resembling a bottle in shape, gend which directed that three drops of t be poured into the mouth of the skeleton,' would come to life again. Although mucl lowed the instructions ; but on letting I the mouth the skeleton began to stir, upon came so frightened that they took to flighl ran, to be pursued by the half-resuscitat port of this strange story caused such neighbourhood that the police had to close thus the old Fenian giant has been once his long slumber of many ages." Idiolo o e OWING to the large number of insane s° +. O O recently arrived at Fort Pitt, the accomraoda:' l altogether inadequate, and orders have been gl o be ' 4 , f additional building for this class of patients : 11 ° 9 ,, otzt ONE MORNING last week an invalid gentle P o cell, took his seat in the parliamentary trais: e oPpt. Brighton from the London-bridge terminns,we ing the Three Bridges station, he suddenly bv (6° ) ;.1 o almost instantly expired. t 0 0 1 e dkit Two CHILDREN, whose parents reside in th e ot it# ford, strolled upon the Great Western Rail O , t he t . 1 01 1 afternoon ; a goods train came along, whet;o o knocked down one of the child ren , an d literati The other escaped unhurt. i C• O cl A CORONER'S jury at Dove r h as b r ought 13,0,, AO manslaughter against the captain, John Wats ° of Pfd Kidham and Thomas May, the look-out ineu, D oo o o, mail-steamer between Dover and Calais, which lision with the Henry, a Yarmouth vessel, in D ' showing a proper light at the time. , or SEAL FISHING.—A sloop is being fitted up _ 1 .. 0 sop r of modation of a party of gentlemen, including T r the Baillie, of Bedcastle, who are to V reea The sa of seals, near Tain , in the Dornoch Firth . Ave eeks capt last season, with the same party, in g - e id s killed no fewer than 153 full-go wn - LIST WEEK, during the Pog res- s na med Fetter e f i , , ? Newcastle to Kelso, a young ma n Aa,.„ s sia smoke. He was 0w... t roof of the carriage to sal thew' ii r wt mark through the hole in the roof in whic h t yj when his body came in contact with a bridge °.7 1 d oct i the eon. in.t.ant death. He ' e a mutilated'''. tp t Mn. DENT, storekeeper of Plymouth dOcUrol,'l ayb on Monday, by the upsetting of a boat, in sc r ,o-,,0p his sons, he was fishing between Mount Plalo l l i e ps o island. The eldest son, a lieutenant in the 0 ,, fr te a,' l ' only one of the party sensible when picked u i ;ait s of an excursioa if, son, a clerk in the establishment, though re s . 0 10 1 ',4 t 3 fl a precarious state. th e tf e c sileri A LETTER from St. Petersburgh states broke out on the 22nd ult. in a large estabfis4 co 6 19 fruit, belonging to Prince Dolgorouki, t;telfi e e rif state, and now used for drying sourkrout I , e seir q t troops. The loss of this building is stated to . o v a A O 0 0 there being no other establishment of the t ter i le d provisioning the troops. „ mai ABUNDANCE OP CORN ON THE DAxvE Vienna says that the Steam Navigation 7: 00 09,1 Danube is sending all the towing vessels I ",ir i e'ted, provinces of the Lower Danube, but that c olic e p sufficient to enable the large quantities of corn i f , D c f; l t i beto b a e bl s e en te t eobff,taainndfrethigabtteevaetnbg prices.numbere THE QUEEN AND THE LAPDOG.-011 , y f Pt the Queen suddenly perceived she had left b t t ' little lapdog, and expressed very great reg re Doy 4 ,c 4 notice was taken apparently beyond sympathl. ~11 mgato to th e oEdehtnshiset and steam were made to perform their ieen u lsO,V feats, and when the Queen entered her boukor 1 1 the first thing that she saw was her lapdog, t' 4 r ' ward to meet her. A II" 0 eil P A i ' Two BROTHERS, named Edwin Lister an d d r oll,;o 4 f, aged nineteen and seventeen, have been found olvifisr, exhausted clay-pit at Broad Pill, on the east ° c i (f i ll' river Avon. The body of the elder was divestf b e ,44 stockings, and many persons surmise that A isfe e i fr , Y ' fatal occurrence he was in the act of washing p e ti D i iOO stooping forward with this object he overbalan", , fell in, and that the younger brother was dr° e'l ell "fi tempt to save him. me, ..d. f A FARMER in the neighbourhood of D0n1"," 3 1 - W. on his socks the other morning, was stung I') 0. .4 had found its way into the inside of one of tile oj r wards came into the shearers' hiring market , : il itivo: unwell, falling several times down on the paceli r berry-square, and ultimately fainting awaY• - ea or singular that the sting of a wasp has prod ci l 4, stilt on former occasions, while from the o ,wceo i ti f tt l Y evil effect was experienced by lf Dantfrk e. 01 'V ' ma.— —,aoni 0 l',li SIR JAMES ,GRAHAM performed the eerv—,..,li s ie , i ll d r,, l the first sod of the Silloth railway, near "", „" Of week. He delivered a speech on the occas' ° ' %iv/ dwelt upon the value and importance of th: works which distinguished this country, 3° , 1 ihe lt lPV gratification that the war had not yet retarde t be ;, 1 j , I . A dejeuner took place afterwards, at whi °ll „oo,,,k ~ baronet was present; but in his address be„',., - je ' 1V to the objects of the meeting, and did not all" VI d JA,, l 4'' iff tical object. i t in . 4 , FRAUD BY A CONFIDENTIAL SERVANT."' OA„DvO., bert, one of the managers in the extensrLttie:clo,,, Messrs. Hine, Mundella, and Co., hosiers, 9' 1 "; os,:tD e 'r on Tuesday committed for trial t the sessir i ,;,:e .f o d e be i 44 , purchased questing rErgw employers. N ecamthDrhasreiatThtet E XPENDITURE dnt hsEtteehoyeoo l iimP t l appeared ea3irgßcibehess : rlstblrin.sire.Atßs hye t i nev h :e a nr t ot aom i am n uapend. July soa g esi o i,:o f eiiiii:jr, : tl l , i t t l e ir: . 1 .7 : 1,4. , : ' t ri : 10; : f frudulently obtaining 4,000 dozens of threstlias.-t e t ; u8 ri whom they were sold at £lOO less than O w ri Pj el: fr It , 1; dered by the House of Commons, shows 4,,,,- 0 0 ° O 5 , " legal, and engineering expenses of 160 rail , 0 r,OS t . intbe r appears that the total sums of money Or % eu_A) °,',g ° ief , acts of Parliament for establishing suer, I etyvol , £12,548,715 Bs. 21d. giving an average jps re ,l °PO! The money expended obtaining acts or Oi l ste.,„ t eet'A e railways, or amalgamating with railwaY ° „ t ill 6 i . l pt"„ptr io rt amounted to £852,202 2s. The money sli e ` c i e til e ose'",, re' I and expenses incurred by actions, suits, n° v ies , dc''' e ot l f at law or in equity by some of the cora ° , e t0 3 .,04' £685,104 4s. 3d. Forty-five companies 10 re l' e siP, -, Yr; , Th e ,,; b ~,,,l , A CONVENT ROMANCE IN BAVART..(O. I,-0 0P - elef f: the-way , place in the neighbourhood of Ant,}l, fp/ Anger, on which stands the convent el c " oo c i ti School Sisters." A young girl entered thi s h iishin e s th e c eili 4 time was sent as a novice to a branch este t sh e ica re etO r ri,y helm, where she suddenly recollected Oa she s ea toe sor sor of youth, health, and 9,0001 (f 7°° ' ) n olni oll of /I VO/ resolution not to take the veil, and yens 00 ove r pef.q to the " Anger." On the road she calleacig be_ oct w ool tions, an employi, who, instead of g o t he yeti,, s o l4 . o 9 , ordered her to go to the convent. Sh e cue b s iv liotvelfe' time nothing more was heard of ber. '-' re fo rce ut well circulated, that the civil authorities we we ii, b toe c : fi i/ us es t ° r e nisi w ill 3 . 0 0 6 0 4 fi lll n a e t d t eirn. the c w o u n v found s tl h ia e t r t e l s i o e lt g it ir e l v iv r as est i , and the trustees of her deceased Parent f the P i 0 0/ es o vouring to get her out of the clutch c°l l ll 4 l were , a , , e 0 Nuremberg Paper. : works , fro- ~nip loo f 4 WINDSOR CASTLE.—Extens.ve , ~a rt ur ~„Jb.T.,,er si 0 upsa s t s o a ° g t b aeig is o P ef e it t n e b e „di• fine ir ie ,I t : immediately after the Court took its e .. e com plet`oc v i in April last, and will, it is expected L'' h oetober•row, f" Her Majesty returns to the Castletiof a su btee 0 4, 6 ;01 progress consist of the digging 1 t ,,„, s even t i ° lo ,l l' ; '" s ile,4 l to tromsotuettuhbeeorn: :we:: ::::111:lteltv; 300 feet in length, and varying ~,..,.....: w ing, t he CA , J ef passage heath the h w e width, extending from the north"' w ing ot : I ' 4 o .s el l grating s 6 Coo ° P"'ff i q l l u a d d e lightr r i a v n e gle the quadrangle, covered by ironbservati°"' A i cep's cr, 3 o/: ranged as to escape particular 0 of larg e CC' 30.1° 1 611 1 these passages will be a number to lier sin ° le le 1 • t access by this alteration convenient n ra e t ei l t n e A ge wi a t il l' it t i f ielfi jOd apartments and the numerous carried i o e d f thealo along Castle. the v aPrrioeuv trances to the apartments. Severiaine _ d close wio aoto icy. the north terrace, which have redly ex ploredi e fon r ot' of Elizabeth, have been recently but they were g 0 ,, , forming them into coal cellars, nsequenee I suited for that purpose, in co and inconvenient position. ~ LOY - 1 ; 5 1r, vesDseo„. ir& oY • teal#o,o' AI ! A i Stern. bet or Lay f icit scoo t )ft in a iag le follo, 16, coo of i 0 the A 0 10 , v tir e rr j e are the 'coly: nof , f 0 at a: t wo ' NAV , % P . etio i t 0 ,0 I hY ered Dte 'the c o to es • w here i ll * g, 'll dau b d D 'lt t n h e w s il e j e c: lll3 SP l ht, e%P! ),0 ted 8 13 „ is a AP J a s . ,les'i f ir ose 11 P: 00* e In°r'