The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-31 00:00:00

BILLS OF EXCHANGE BILL.

This bill, which provides for the registration of
bills of exchange, and gives power to the creditor to
proceed at once to judgment on a dishonored bill on
rejection, was read a second time on Wednesday.
It was opposed by Mr. Vance, Mr. Muntz, and some
others, as giving an undue preference to a certain
class of creditors, and especially injurious to small
traders; and supported by the Attorney-General,
Mr. Napier, Mr. Glyn, and others, on the ground
that the bills formed the currency of the country—
that the debts they involved were acknowledged—
that the system proposed worked well in Scotland,
and the present English system was a disgrace to
the country, and the only wonder was, that com-
merce could flourish at all under it. Another bill on
the same subject was read a second time shortly
after.

AUSTRALIAN POSTAL COMMUNICATION.
The Earl of HARDWICKE on Monday complained
that our postal communication with our Australian
colonies was as good as stopped; that, instead of
being sent by steamers and twice a month, as had
been promised and performed for some time, it was
now despatched in sailing vessels at intervals of three
or four months. He admitted the difficulties arising
out of the war, but said that in the colonies compa-
nies existed who were ready to undertake the service,
and all that the colonists required was that they
should be permitted to do so.
Viscount CANNING said that be had certainly re-
ceived a communication from a company in Australia,
who had offered to construct vessels if the Govern-
ment would give them a contract ; but he could not
accede to so uncertain a proposition. There were
but two or three steamers in Australia fit for the long
voyage. He detailed the successive requirements of
the war, which had led to the employment elsewhere
of the vessels of the great steam companies one after
another. Australia, from its distance, had suffered
more than any other colony ; but, so convinced were
the Government of the importance of the matter,
that, notwithstanding the exigencies of the war, they
were then in treaty with the Peninsular and Oriental
Company for the establishment of a postal service
with Australia, through Singapore and Point de
Galle.

THE IMPORTS OF WHEAT in 1854 amounted to
3,431,227 quarters, against 4,915,430 quarters in
1858. In 1840, only 1,993,383 quarters were im-
ported ; in 1843, only 940,120; in 1845, 871,710 ; in
1846 (the repeal year), 1,432,591 qnarters ; in 1847,
2,656,455 qnarters ; in 1849, 3,845,378 quarters ; and
in 1853, 4,915.430 quarters. Of the wheat imported
in 1854, 506,830 quarters came from Russia, 672,842
quarters from Prussia, 248,451 quarters from Den-
mark, 315,386 quarters from the Ilanse Town, 143,078
quarters from France, 119,504 quarters from
Moldavia and Wallachia, 163,294 quarters from the
Turkish dominions, 302,905 quarters from Egypt,
and 417,907 quarters from the United States or
America. The total quantities of all kinds of grain
imported in 1854 amounted to 8,850,500 quarterst
sad of all kinds a meal and Sou to 8)705,160 cwts

THE PRESS.

THE WAR.

Intelligence from the Crimea to the 24th inst. is
said to have been received in St. Petersburg. It
states that the bombardment had not recommenced,
although the batteries had been finished on the 16th.
Prince Gortschakoff arrived in Sebastopol on the
20th. The death of Menschikoff has been reported
and contradicted.

Advices to the 17th have reached the British and
French Governments. Despatches from Lord
Raglan, dated successively on the 10th, 13th, and
17th inst., have appeared in the Gazette during the
week. The two last letters from the commander-in-
chief are as follows :

Before Sebastopol, March 13.

The enemy commenced working upon the mamelon in
front of the tower of Malakoff in the night of Friday, but
the nature of the work, from the thickness of the atmo-
sphere, could not be distinguished.
tireat progress, however, had been perceived on Sunday,
and that night a strong working party of the British troops
was occupied in commencing a parallel from the advanced
point of our tight attack, with a view to form a junction
with the corresponding parallel to be made on their side
by the French, who began it on the following evening;
and much was done to forward the operation before day-
light this morning, and it is hoped that the object will be
completed to-night.
The weather is generally fine in the early part of the day,
but towards evening heavy sea fogs come rolling in, and
wholly obscure the view of the place.
The enemy have shown a battalion and some Cossacks
on the heights above lialaklava and towards Namara, pro-
bably with the view to interrupt the French and English
wood-cutting parties, for the construction of gabions,in the
immediate neighbourhood, but the allied detachments have
not been obliged to discontinue their work.
March 17.

The progress of the parallel, which T reported to your
lordship in my despatch of the 13th inst., has not been as
rapid as was anticipated, the ground being extremely
rocky, and the difficulty of procuring cover consequently
excessive, and rendering it almost impossible to carry on
the operation during the day.
Both the English and the French have now, however,
succeeded in establishing the communication between
them. Her Majesty's troops have not been assailed ; but
our allies have been kept constantly in action, and they
have succeeded in driving the enemy from the rifle pits,
in which they had established themselves in their imme•
diate front, with distinguished gallantry and great persee
veranoe. They, however, have sustained some loss, though
not equal to that which they have inflicted upon their op-
ponent.
A steady fire has been maintained upon the mamelon in
the occupation of the enemy, from the guns in our right
attack ; and the practice of both the navy and the artillery
has been conspicuously good, and reflects the highest
credit on those branches of her Majesty's service.
Although no positive attack has been directed against
our works, our approaches are carried so close to the
enemy that the casualties are greater than they have lately
been, as your lordship will be concerned to remark in ex-
*mining the returns 1 have the honour to inclose ; and it
is my painful duty to announce to your lordship the death
of Captain ,Craigie, of the Royal Engineers, whose zeal
and devotion to the service could not be surpassed, and
who was killed on the 13th, after he had been relieved
from the trenches, and was on his way to the Engineer-
park, by a splinter from a shell, which burst close to him.
I have the honour to report the arrival of Lieutenant-
General Simpson, who joined my head-quartet-a y eaten' ay,
and that of Sir John M'Neill and Colonel Tulloch, who
reached Balaklava a few days before.

RAGLAN.

The Moniteur publishes the following despatch
from Constantinople, dated the 19th inst.:—
_ _

In the night between the 15th and 16th inst. the French
troops carried a hue of ambuscades occupied by the
enemy's sharpshooters; at the same time the Russians
made a sortie on our extreme left, which was vigorously
repulsed. They had fifty men put hurt de combat, and
withdrew in disorder.

A despatch from General Canrobert dated the 17th
inst., and describing the same events alluded to in
Lord Raglan's letters, has also appeared in the
Mottiteur.

Letters!of the 15th from the camp state that Lord
Raglan had been indisposed, but was much better,
and was able to go to Balaklava on horseback.
The numbers actually under arms, including
sergeants, on the 3rd inst., were 17,740. This was
exclusive of those on guard, pickets, &c. The
number sick in camp was 5,210, and the number of
sick absent 12,477, making a total of 17,693 sick.
The deaths reported on that day were 59,17 of which
occurred at Scutari. On the 10th, the number
actually under arms, not employed on any duty
whatever, amounted to 20,600 men. The effectives,
including rank and file and sergeants, amounted to
26,000 men. The health and appearance of the
troops continued to improve daily.
Several officers of our Indian army had arrived at
Balaklava.

The Scots Fusilier Guards have established a sort
of canteen, at which articles of almost every de-
scription are sold,—good cheese, Od.; baton, ditto 1

299

butter, &c., equally as cheap ; sherry at 2s. 3d., and
port wine at 2s. Bd.

The Rev. Mr. Sheahan, one of the most devoted
of the Roman Catholic chaplains with the army,
died in camp on the 14th. He had not very long
returned from the hospital at Scutari, to which ho
had gone, aster suffering from a very severe illness
in the early part of the winter.
Russian deserters report immense loss of life on
the part of the enemy during the winter. The late
Czar had himself directed the construction of the
defence, according to the assertions of one of the
deserters (an officer), and plans were still sent off to
St. Petersburg of the most trilling operations. The
garrison of Sebastopol, according to this authority,
was not more than 60,000—scarcely enough to occupy
their extensive works. All the marine force had
been long engaged at the batteries. Some steamers
only were still manned.

I

and more prevalent each day. During the middle of the
day, when the sun is warm, the stench in camp is posi-
tively sickening. Some efforts are now beginuing to be
made to cleanse the ground; but, like all other reforms,
they come too late.
The Russians seem very busy in Sebastopol, especially
in their advanced work in front of Malakoff Tower, which
it is supposed they are mounting with guns.
Lord Raglan and General Cenrobert made a minute in-
spection of the works near Balaklava to-day. Official
rumours speak of the probability of a serious attack on
that part of our defences.
MARCH 16.—Five heavy guns were brought up to the
batteries by the French to-dsy. Two were long thirty-
twos, and three long fifty-six-pounders. Four thirteen'
inch mortars were also got into position in one of our
batteries, which 1 need not further specify.
Lord Raglan visited our right attack (Gordon's Battery),
and remained in it during the whole of the early part of
the morning. While his lordship was present the battery
fired repeatedly upon the enemy, and succeeded in shelling
out the Russian riflemen who lay perdu in front of the
lines. Three of them were killed by a shell as they ran
in towards their own trenches. His lordship expressed
himself highly pleased at the high state of efficiency in
which both men and guns appear. Strange to say the
Russians scarcely returned one gun for ten of ours. A
week ago and a single shot fired from any of the English
works would have been replied to with such a volley as
would have levelled our works; and to day, to the in-
tense surprise of everyone, their riflemen were driven in
almost without their batteries offering any resistance.
About an hour after our lines had ceased firing, the enemy
fired a few shots, but all fell some 500 or t3OO yards behind
our batteries.
The Russian works appear in splendid condition, and
quite crowded with troops, who show themselves without
hesitation, even in the midst of the French fire.
General Canrobert visited Balaklava to-day, and in-
spected the whole of our line of tramway.
The Morning Post publishes a series of letters
recapitulating the events of the same days. The
writer concludes thus :
The deaths in camp yesterday (March 15), I sill told,
amounted to fifteen only. This is another sudden fall.
£he number actually under arms, not employed on any
duty whatever, yesterday amounted to 20,600 men. The
etfectives now amount to 26,000 men (including rank and
file and sergeants)---a most wonderful change.
I forgot to mention the death of Captain Craigie, of the
Royal Engineers, by a splinter of a shell, in the trenches
on the 13th. He was much respected for his abilities as
an engineer.
PS —Milieu 17.—The mail leaves at nine this morning.
I have nothing further of importance. The wind has got
round to the north, and is blowing very cold. There was
a great deal of musketry last night, but I cannot tell what
about.
The Times correspondent writes on the 16th
instant :
We are blessed at last with all the genial influences of a
glorious spring. Vegetation is struggling for existence
beneath the tramp of armed men and the hoof of the war
horse, and faint patches of green herbage dot the brown
expanse in which the allied camps have now rested so
long. The few fruit-trees wh.cli have been left standing
near Balaklava are in blossom. The stumps on the hill-
sides are throwing out green shoots as outlets for the well-
ing sap ; the sun shines brightly and warmly from blue
skies streaked with clouds which are borne rapidly along
by the breeze that never ceases to blow from the high lands.
Of course, the beneficial effects of this permanent fine
weather on the health and spirits of the army are very
great, and become more striking day after day. One great
sign of returning comfort and good spirits cannot be over-
looked. The " voice of song " is heard once more in the
tents, and the men have commenced tuning up their pipes.
and chanting their old familiar choruses once more.
Every token of improvement and change that I noticed
about the camp and the army has been developed. The
railway pushes its iron feelers up the hill-side to the camp.
The wire ropes and rollers for the trains have been par-
tially laid down. Every day the plains and hill-sides are
streaked with columns of smoke, which mark the spots
where fire is destroying heaps of filth and corrupt animal
and vegetable matter as sacrifices on the altar of health.
The sanatorium is working in the most satisfactory
manner, and has produced the best results. Watercourses
are dammed in, and the waters of little streamlets are
caught up in little reservoirs to provide against drought.
Provisions are abundant. Vegetables for the sick, and
fresh meat several times a week. have stopped the ravages
of scorbutic disease. Up to this date about •00 of the huts,
under the charge of Captain Keene, RE., have been sent
to camp, and erected under the guidance of Major Hall.
The army, animated by the constant inspection of Lord
Raglan, and by the supervision of the heads of the great
military departments, is nearly restored in all but numbers
to what it was six months ago. Balaklava is fast resolving
itself into lines of huts. Bakeries, under the control of
Government, are established in the town, and the troops
will soon be fed on wholesome bread. The harbour is
very much crowded, but order is established as far as
nossible among the vessels and their crews, and the muti-
nous spirit manifested on board some of the transports
has been suppressed by the energies of the Provost-Mar-
shal. Colonel M`Murdo is organising his transport corps as
far as his present means will permit him to do so. Gene.
Simpson has arrived, and has lost no nine in making him-
self "master of the situation," and in ascertaining the
position and condition of the various portions of the army.
John M. Neill has also landed, and hasbeen equally zealous
and active in collecting information with respect to the de-
partment which he is to superintend and the mission with
which he is charged. The silence and gloom of despondency
have passed away with the snows and rains, and the