The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-07-31 00:00:00

Writing on the 14th, the same correspondent says:

For several days and nights before the 10th inst. the enemy
had been most troublesome to our advanced working parties,
reducing their progress in fact to a nullity. It was therefore
resolved that a smart cannonade for a few hours should be
administered by way of corrective ; and accordingly about 6
a.m. on Saturday morning, our batteries opened a pretty brisk
fire of shot and shell on the Redan and its neighbouring works,
which was kept up without much intermission till noon. The
Redan offered no reply till 8 o'clock, when it commenced a
sharp fire, but after continuing this for two hours, ceased and
withdrew its guns, nor took further notice of our attack,
though we opened again at 4 p.m. and blazed away for another
couple of hours. Every night since then, however, the Russian
guns have been as busy as our own, and to hear and see the
fire of both one would hardly imagine that a " bombardment"
is not going on. Latterly they have adopted the practice of
peppering our working parties with cohorns, small thin shells
which they fire with little powder from pigmy mortars behind
the Redan, and which, as the report •is hardly heard, and the
usual peculiar shell whiz wanting, fall plump into the middle
of a party without the smallest warning. A few days ago
an excellent infantry captain, on duty with his party
in the trenches, suggested to an artillery officer in
command of one of the batteries that we should
try the same practice, as it proved so mischievous
to ourselves. After consultation and some discussion with
the general for the day, it was agreed that the suggestion
should be carried into execution ; and a couple of cohorn
mortars were accordingly brought from a distant battery and
got into position. when it was first remembered that there
was no ammunition wherewith to work them anywhere nearer
hand than Balaklava ! Accordingly no cohorns have as yet
been sent in answer to the daily and nightly scores which play
havoc amongst our own men. I venture to think there can
be no harm in calling this bad management. Thus, by help
of our own neglect, a combined fire of cohorns, bouquets, and
shells—with fireballs by night to hell) their aim—the enemy
have as yet been able to retard our advance work very con-
siderably. Last night, however, the French and our own guns
kept up a brisk fire for the greater part of the night—the
former, besides their practice on the Malakoff, throwing
rockets from the Victoria Redoubt into the town and the ship-
ping. Nearly a hundred of these last-named fearful missiles
were discharged in the course of the night, darting away on
their deadly errand like avenging comets.
Since I last wrote, we have taken possession of a portion of
St. George's Monastery, to be converted into a sanitarium for
sick officers, for which no spot within the whole range
of our possession is half so well adapted, either by beauty or
healthiness of situation. Cholera and fever have both greatly
abated throughout the camp ; but dysentery has set in to
work much of the mischief of the other two, and, I regret to
say, is becoming increasingly prevalent. A roasting sun by
day and damp heavy fogs overhanging and permeating every-
thing by night, need strong constitutions and a careful regimen
to resist them ; nor have we reached the climax of either yet.
Our thin single tents, instead of sheltering from the heat,
appear to concentrate its rays, and certainly subject all who live
in them to the daily atmosphere of an oven ; nor are they
proof against the murky disease-laden air of night either.
Already, I believe, the disproportion between the number of
tent-dwelling patients and those residing in huts, which are
received into the regimental hospitals, has been very marked ;
nor is it likely to be less, as the present heat rises to its climax
during the coming fortnight.

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

WAR DEPARTMENT, July 26.

Lord Panmure has this day received two despatches and
their enclosures, of which the following are copies, addressed
to his lordship by Lieutenant-General Simpson, Commanding
Her Majesty's Forces in the East :
BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, July 14.
My Lord,—l announced to yBur lordship, by telegraph on
the 11th, the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Vico. of the French
army, which melancholy event took place on the afternoon of
the 10th instant.

It is impossible for me to find words to express my regret
at this sad visitation.
Lieutenant-Colonel Vico joined the English army as joint
commissioner the latter end of May, 1854, and had, up to the
time of his death, never been absent from his duty for a single
day. At Varna, where the cholera raged and carried off hun-
dreds—at the landing of the allied armies at Old Fort—
at the Bulganac, where his colleague, Lieutenant-Colonel de
Lagondie, was taken prisoner, and from which time he had
the sole charge of the communications between the French
and English head-quarters—at the glorious battle of the Alma
—at that of Balaklava—at the stern and bloody fight of Inker-
man—in fact, at every place, and on every occasion where he
thought his services could be of use was Lieutenant-Colonel
Vico to be found.

I know that the late Field-Marshal Lord Raglan held him
in the highest estimation, and placed the most implicit confi-
dence in him ; and, although my acquaintance had, compara-
tively speaking, been but a short one, it had been long enough
for me to appreciate the many excellent qualities with which
he was endowed.

A pious Christian, a brave and gallant soldier, a single-
hearted, upright man, a kind and generous one, who thought
no personal sacrifice too great for the public good, he has gone
from us, beloved and regretted by every Englishman who ?ad
the advantage of knowing him and enjoying his friendship.—
I have, &c., JAMES SIMPSON,
Lieutenant-General Commanding.

BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, July 14.
My Lord,—l have the honour to transmit the numerical
and nominal returns of casualties in this army, from the 9th
to the 12th instant.

Captain Maunsell, of the 39th Regiment, who was killed in
the trenches on the 10th instant, was a most gallant and me-
ritorious officer, and his loss is much regretted.
I enclose also the return of casualties in the Naval Brigade
on the 10th instant, the day we opened fire upon the Redan,
considering which circumstance your lordship will rejoice to
find that the list is not heavier ; the two men who are re-
turned as killed, and wounded dangerously, respectively,
received their injuries by the accidental bursting of the guns
they were serving.
The weather, which had been oppressively hot since the date
of my last despatch, has since changed to a far cooler and
more agreeable temperature.
The health of the army continues good, and their confidence
and cheerfulness are unabated.

There has been no change in the disposition of the allied
troops since my last despatch.—l have, &c.,
JAMES SnesoN,
Lieutenant• General Commanding.
The Lord Panmure, &c.

The total casualties are-1 officer, 1 sergeant, 13 rank and
file, killed ; 3 officers, 3 sergeants, 102 rank and file, wounded.

TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES.

The Moniteur of Wednesday announces that the Minister
of War has received the following despatch from General
Pelissier, dated July 23, 11 p.m.:—
The enemy appears to have taken alarm last night, and
opened a very brisk fire on the right and left of our lines of
attack. Our batteries replied as briskly, and with success.
I have good news from Yenikale. Everything there is go-
ing on well, under the direction of Lieut.-Colonel Osmont,
who has taken measures to prevent any disorder at Kertch.
WAR DEPARTMENT, JULY 26.
Lord Panmure has received the following communication
from the Crimea, dated the 25th of July, 5 p.m.:—
Cholera has not increased since my last report, and the
army continues in satisfactory health.

The Moniteur of Friday announces that the Minister of
'War has received the following despatch from the Crimea,
dated July 25, 3 a.m. :

After a brisk cannonade the Russians made a sortie, about
midnight, on the left of the Little Redan.
As we are now quite close to them it did not take the enemy
one minute to reach our gabionnades.
They were vigorously received by the Chasseurs-a-Pied of
the Imperial Guard, and by some companies of the 10th Re-
giment of Infantry of the Line.
The Russians beat a hasty retreat, leaving some wounded,
and eight killed, between our ambuscades and the fosse of the
place.
A very dark night enabled them to carry off the others.
This affair does honour to Lieutenant-Colonel de Taxis, of
the Infantry, and to Captain Lecucq, of the Engineers.
General Bisson was on duty in the trenches.

TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS.
BERLIN, Tuesday.
An Imperial Russian ukase forbids the Jews to settle as
agriculturists or to purchase land in the Governments of
Tchernigeff and Poltawa.
It is reported that the local boards of administration in
Poland are to be dissolved and incorporated with the govern-
ment offices at St. Petersburg.
Marshal Paskiewitsch is understood to have expressed a
desire to withdraw from office.

Political offenders are subjected to martial law in Poland.

THE BALTIC FLEET.
DANTBIC, Friday Afternoon.
The Lightning has arrived. Captain Vansittart, with the
Magicienne, Arrogant, and Ruby, attacked and silenced a fort
at Friederickshamm on the 20th. Three men were wounned.

The Press, of Saturday, says :—" A diplomatic paper has
been confidently circulated at Vienna which throws a strange
and new light on recent negotiations. It is stated that a
treaty, offensive and defensive, with the Western Powers, was
proposed by Austria on conditions which, though rejected by
France and England, were declined solely on grounds relating
to the particular circumstances of each country. It is said that
the details, when known, will not prove flattering to the self-
estimate of the resources of England and France."
We (the United Service Gazette) understand that General
Simpson telegraphed to the General Commanding-in-Chief at
the Horse Guards, to the effect that he declined the services
of Major-General Knollys to succeed him as chief of the
staff, andwould prefer an officer of experience to do the duties,

to be selected from the staff already stationed in that country.
Major-General Barnard has been appointed.
It is likely that General the Earl of Westmorland, now
Colonel of the 56th Regiment, will succeed Lord Raglan as
Colonel of the Royal Horse Guards. Lord Westmorland, who
entered the army in 1803, served with great distinction in
Egypt, the Peninsula, and Italy. He has a Peninsular medal
with four clasps for Roleia, Vimeira, Talavera, and Bnsaco.
GENERAL SINPSON.—We have reason to believe that the
rumours which have been current during the past week of
General Simpson's resignation of the command of the British
forces in the East are premature, although not without some
foundation. Our advices from the seat of war lead us to fear
that the health of the gallant General is giving way under the
arduous duties imposed upon him. A consciousness of failing
strength has prompted General Simpson to express a desire to
be relieved of his command ; and, therefore, although he has
been formally confirmed in the appointment, it is probable that
he may shortly return home. The accounts of the progress
of the siege are not satisfactory. The Russians have, within
the last few days, considerably strengthened their works of
defence, which we are assured on high military authority are
extremely formidable, in spite of our terrific bombardment."
—The Press.
THEMISTARE OF THE 18111 OFJUNE.—A non-commissioned
officer, writing home to his relatives in Devonshire, under date
of the sth of July, Camp before Sebastopol, thus refers to the
mistake of the 18th nit :—" Sebastopol is still standing in the
hands of the Russians, but I don't think they will have it much
longer, for now we have them blocked in every way. We
made an attack on the 7th of June, and the French took about
70 guns and 502 prisoners. We took all the intrenchments,
and are in possession of them now. On the 18th of June we
went to storm the town, but there was some misunderstanding
about it, and we did not succeed. The French were told off to
take one battery arid the English another. The French did
not take theirs, but the English did, though they could not
keep it on account of the French not taking theirs." The re-
mainder of the letter refers to matters well known, but the
foregoing extract is not without importance,as showing the sen-
timents of the troops with reference to a much-debated event.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

TUESDAY.

The Earl of HARDWICKE moved, " That, in consequence of
the proceedings upon the Fibre Company's Bill having been
suspended by reason of the introduction of a general measure
upon limited liability, and as there is now little prospect of
such measure passing in the present session, it is expedient
that the said bill be allowed to be read a second time." This
bill had passed the House of Commons, had come up to their
lordships' house, and now stood for a second reading. It was
well known that the supply of paper had fallen off as the
desire for its use had been extended. The result was an
enormous increase in its price, and the Government revenue
had fallen off in consequence of the diminished supply of the
raw material from which it was manufactured.

Lord REDESDALE opposed the motion, which was supported
by the Earl of DERBY, and the Marquis of CLANRICARDE,
but after some discussion it was negatived without a division.
The Metropolis Local Management Bill, the Dissenters'
Marriages Bill, the Stage Carriages Duties, &c., Bill, the Chi-
nese Passengers Ships Bill, the Court of Jurisdiction (Prince
of Wales) Bill, the Convention with the United States Bill,
the Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Acts Conso-
lidation and Amendment Bill, the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
Continuance Bill, the Turnpike Trusts Arrangements Bill,
the Lunatic Asylums and Regulations Acts Amendment Bill,
and the Militia Officers Qualifications Bill, were read a second
time.
Lord BROUGHAM moved the second reading of the Dissen-
ters' Relief Bill, the object of which was to enable persons in
holy orders to become laymen.
The Earl of DERBY could not pretend, at a moment's notice,
to enter into a subject of so much importance, and to agree to
the principle of a measure affecting episcopal authority, in the
presence of every member of the episcopal bench. The bill
permitted a clergyman,claiming to be a dissenter, to be absolved
from all episcopal authority. But _ suppose a clergyman had
committed grave misconduct, which rendered him liable to
ecclesiastical censure, was he, from claiming to dissent from
the doctrines of the church, to release himself from the penal-
ties of his iniquities ? The bill proposed to permit such a
person to take his seat in the House of Commons, or to go to
the bar. But suppose, after professing himself a dissenter for
three months, he came back to the Church, was he to retain
his seat in the House of Commons, or would he regain his
clerical character ? The bill proposed an entire alteration in
the system of the Church of England, and he would oppose its
second reading, if he stood alone. He did not bind himself to
oppose the principle of the bill in a future session, but he
protested against a bill of so much importance being brought
in in this hasty and hurried manner, and he should accordingly
move that the bill be read a second time on that day six
months.
After some remarks from Lord BnotrGuem and Lord
GRANVILLE, the bill was withdrawn.
The Treasurer of Counties (Ireland) Bill, and the Sale of
Spirits (Ireland) Bill, were read a second time.—The Public
Libraries and Museums Bill was read a third time and passed.
—The Piers and Harbours (Scotland) Bill and the Crown
Suits Bill passed through committee.—The report of amend-
ments upon the Merchant Shipping Act Amendment Bill was
agreed to.—The Turnpike Acts Continuance Bill and the
West Indies Relief Loans Arrangement Bill were read a third
time and passed.—The Lunatic Asylums (Ireland) Bill passed
through committee.—The Mortmain Bill was withdrawn.
Their lordships adjourned at 9 o'clock.

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.