The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

•
Six weeks have elapsed since the unsuccessful attack of the 18th of
June. The interval has been remarkable for:an almost entire absence
of active hostilities on either side. But from the great strength of the
allied forces, the good health of the troops, their ample supplies of
every munition of war, and the favorable state of the weather for
operations, we are entitled to assume that they have been diligently,
though unostentatiously, engaged in preparations for a more extensive
and better concocted ' attack than the one previously made on the
Malakoff and Redan. In fact, information has reached us which leads
us to conclude that an assault on the Malakoff will be made before the
6th instant. A letter from one of the generals of division to a near
relative has been received in town, in which this intelligence is com-
pletely confirmed. It is, therefore, most probable that very early in
the ensuing week we shall be in possession of the particulars of this
important movement.
The Russians, on their side, seem to have been most actively
engaged in strengthening their works, and in collecting immense
stores for the use of the garrison. Our readers will recollect that in
THE Passe of the 14th July we announced that two powerful corps of
the Russian army were advancing by forced marches to the relief of
the garrison of Sebastopol. The following from the Times of Wed-
nesday last announces that two divisions belonging to the corps of
General LUDERS have actually arrived in the Crimea
BERLIN, Monday, July 30.
According to advices from St. Petersburg, general orders from Prince Gortschakoff
announce the arrival in the Crimea of the 7th and 15th Infantry Divisions, and at the
same time express his thanks to the inhabitants of Bessarabia.
So confident are the Russians of ultimate success that an elabo-
rate article in the Invalide Russe this week reviews the resources of the
Russians as compared to those of the Allies, and boastfully declares
that, as long as the north side of the town remains open to the
supplies of men and materiel which are daily poured in, it can never
be taken. The Vienna Gazette declares, upon the highest authority,
that the next assault of the Allies will be final,; and that, whether the
Karabelnia suburb be taken and the Russian 'fleet destroyed, or the
assault repulsed, the campaign of '55 will be closed, the siege raised,
and the Allies retire to their vast intrenched positions at Kamiesch
and Balaklava, there to await. the ensuing year, when a large army will
be concentrated at Varna, and a campaign opened in Bessarabia.
The news from the camp has been bare the last few days : the
telegraph is quiet, or the War-office is dumb—it may be with a pur-
pose. As for the progress of the siege, our sap is within two hundred
yards of the salient angle of the Redan, and the French within some-
thing less of the Malakoff. Expectation is high in Paris for the news
of the next assault. The health of the army .is excellent; but, as it is
unlikely that the army will be in Sebastopol by Christmas, it is time to
think of winter and winter preparations. At present no provisions
beyond collecting stores of cattle and corn have been made for the
comfort and care of the army. Two-thirds of the men and most of the
officers are yet without huts, and it is said that there is not another
hut in store.

General MOURAVIEFF is reported by the latest advices to have
raised the siege of Kars, and to have retired for the protection of
Tiflis, which the Circassians threatened. Communications have been
restored between Kars and Erzerouni. The Turks have displayed ex-
traordinary activity and energy ; and if OMER PACHA is only sent over
with his forces from the Crimea there is little doubt but that the
Russians would find their work cut out for them on a scale they did
not expect.

The letter of our correspondent in the Baltic fleet still leads us
to suppose that the Commanders meditate striking some decisive
blow very speedily. Our correspondent writes guardedly, but the
hints he drops are significant, and we are well assured he is
not the man to excite expectations, unless he had good grounds
for believing that they would be fulfilled. The Morning Poet
of Thursday seeks to prepare us for disappointment, and to
assuage our grief tells us that there is nothing for it but a " con-
tented submission to circumstances," and that if, after all, the perform-
ances of our fleet this year are scanty, yet " there remains the com-
" forting assurance that our inactivity has its parallel in the enemy's
" circumstances too !" But, unhappily for the credit of our Govern•
ment, the Russian inactivity is represented in the shape of seventy-
nine row and steam gun-boats, as the fruit of one year's labour at
Cronstadt, and by the vast and impregnable fortifications upon the spot,
which render what was once probable now impossible—while we, with all
our science, skill, and boasted resources, have only turned out a score
or so of gun-boats in the same time.
The succqisful destruction of the batteries of Fredericksham by
the Arrogance details of which arrived this week, was counter-
balanced by the unlucky affair of the Driver's boats up the Gulf of
Bothnia. Really, the commanders of some of our ships do not appear
_

rte

than a repetition, on a larger scale, of a similar plan which Sir GEORGE
attempted and utterly failed to carry out in New Zealand. Why, the
plan carries failure on its face—a military colony of 5,000 men, each
to be rewarded with a cottage and oue acre of land ie. Kaffraria, for
seven years service on the frontiers ! What men will be found to serve
on such terms as these, with Australia and the gold-fields within a
month's sail of them? Moreover, is the formation of a series of
military outposts the most certain plan of turning the Kaffirs into
" fast friends, or useful servants ?" Sir GEORGE GREY'S experience
and knowledge of the peculiarities of the New Zealanders—to which
Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTII bore such high testimony on Tuesday night
—was, no doubt, the most complete. But the brave, open-hearted
New Zealander is a man whose oath .may be relied on ; while the
cunning, treacherous Kaffir can never, under any circumstances, be
trusted. We are asked to continue this grant for ten years : 40,0001.
a year for a colonial governor's whim, which contains nothing but fine
words to recommend it !

The Commission of Inquiry upon the Hyde•park riots has
closed its examination of witnesses. From the evidence of the police
authorities themselves, it would seem that the Government placed much
greater stress upon, and took a far more serious view of, the affair than
the weans they employed to suppress it would justify. The police-force
in the Park was too weak to do its work mildly—there was altogether
too much of an air of mock military preparation about the prelimi-
naries, placing ten men in reserve behind this tree, and six more out
of sight behind that—thus weakening the real strength of force. In
fact, the whole affair, like everything else the Government under-
takes, was mismanaged from beginning to end.

The extraordinary amount to which the subscriptions to the
French loan have reached-3,000,000,000 francs—speaks well for the
vast resources of France, for the confidence which the French people
have in the stability of the Imperial Government, and for the admirable
policy of LOUIS NAPOLEON, who strengthens his position by borrowing
the people's money. Your best friend is your creditor, up to a certain
amount. LOUIS NAPOLEON seems inclined to test this theory, and, as
yet, with every success.

The second part of the famous Brussels Pamphlet has lately
appeared at Geneva. In it the author asserts that Austria incited the
Emperor of the FRENCH to carry out the expedition of the Crimea in
order to divert the allied armies from a position in the Principalities,
and obtain them for herself. The writer's views upon the present
position of the war and of Europe are then given. The restoration of
Poland, the punishment of Austria, the freedom of Hungary and Italy,
and the preponderance of France, are the propositions urged ; while
the Emperor of the FRENCH is recommended to laud at Eupatoria with
150,000 men, and drive the Russians out of the Crimea. The policy
of the allied Governments and the conduct of the Generals is most
severely and unjustly criticised, and a "revenge for Waterloo" ear-
nestly demanded.