The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-02 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

At the dates of the latest *dykes the warlike
preparations on both sides were proceeding with
much energy, but no hostile movement of any kind
had been accomplished. On the Russian frontier,
Jassy, in Moldavia, is matte the centre of the military
force, and nearly 100,000 men were shortly to be
concentrated around that place. At the same time
that Count Nesselrode sent his circular of the 11th
to the ambassadors, couriers were despatched to
Jassy and Bucharest ordering preparations to be
made for immediate movement in ease the lust
ultimatum was refused by the Porte. That refusal
had now been definitively given, and, though rumours
that the principalities are already entered have been
current in Vienna, it is believed that no actual step
will be taken on the frontiers without a further inter-
change of communications between Constantinople
and St. Petersburg.
The European Consul at Jassy had nevertheless
received a message on the 19th front the reigning
Prince of Moldavia, intimating that official intelli-
gence had reached him of the speedy entrance of the
Russian troops.
The Salina mouth of the Danube had only seven
and a half feet of water, although elsewhere the river
was full, and at some points overflowing. Steam
communication between Galati. and Constantinople
was cut oft. Two hundred vessels laden with grain
were unable to get away. It is said that the Russians
had sunk several ls►ats helen with stones in the canal
of Salina, in order to stop the navigation of the
Danube.

Letters from Constantinople state that if the
Russians should enter the principalities the Porte
will not oppose that measure by force of arms. It
will merely protest in the fare of all Europe, and
refuse to negotiate as long as its territory is
violated.

The answer to the ultimatum which was given in
on the 16th of June is drawn up in clear and concise
tenns, rejecting the pretensions of Russia, and ac.
(pitting the consequences of an appeal to arms. It
was to have been communicated to Prince Menschi-
koff at Odessa on the 111th. The Porte, previous to
coming to a decision, duly informed Lord Stratford
and M. La Cour, and acted at their unbiassed insti-
gation and connivance.

on the Turkish side the annaments prlgress
rapidly. The Dardanelles, and the forts of the
Rlaek Sea and the llosphonts, have been greatly
strengthened. Six camps, of 15,000 men cad., are
being formed ; viz.' one at Constantinople, one at
.Weittimple, one at Ilitstelink, one at Shinnla, one at
Erzeroom, and one at Konich. The Seraskier, Meh-
met Ali Paella, will command the first, Mehmet
l'acha the second, Omer I'acha the third and fourth,

and Vaasa Poch& the tiftl► and sixth. The artillery
is placed under the command of Kerim Paella; and
Mimes, Pacha and Mussa Paella, two generals of
distinction, with a numerous staff of officers and en-
gineers, will take charge of Varna and the other
strongholds on the ltumelian coast of the Black Sea.
Haul Paella went off a few days since to visit the
various ports capable of defence. Though the feast,
of the Ramazan had commenced, the works had suf-
fered no
The th et is concentrated at the northern extremity
of the Itosphorns, from Therapia to the Black Sea.
It is composed of 35 ships, two of them three-
deckers, three two-deckers, ten frigates, four cor-
vettes, eight brigs, and eight steamers, four of which
are of large dimensions. This force will be increased
by ships recalled from different stations, and by eight
others which are in course of equipment in the
arsenal.

An embargo was laid on every Turkish vessel in
the port of Constantinople, and a large supply of ex-
cellent seamen was in this way obtained, as every
craft had to furnish a certain number of men. That
matter being settled, the embargo was removed.
on the 14th ult. the French fleet left its anchorage
at Tenedos to join that of England in liesika Bay.
The combined fleet now comprises the billowing
vessels :

Burrisn.—Ships of the Line : Britannia, dig-ship
of Vice-Admiral Ihne 120 guns ; Trafalgar, 120;
Albion, 90 ; Rodury, IN); Vengeance, s 4 ; Bellero-
phon, 78.—Frigate Arethua►, ;►lt gnus.—Steam-Fri-
gates: Retribution, •l$ guus; Sampson, 10; Fire•
brand, II ; Tiger, 111.—Steam-lunettes : Niger, DI
guns; Furious, III; Fury, 0 ; Inflexible,o; 11'asp,14;
Modesto, Is.—Sterun-l'oeket Curadoc, 2 guns.—
Total, Is vessels ; 170 guns.
FRENCll.—Ships of the Line : Title de Paris, flag-
ship ot• Vice-Admiral do la Fuse, 111 guns; Paley.
120.—Steam-Ships of the Line : Montebello, 120
guns ; Henry IV., 100 ; Nap►leon, 90; Bayard, ;
Charlemagne, 80.—Ship of the Line : Jupiter, tai
guns.—Steam Frigates : Moyador, 10 guns; Swill,
14 ; Magellan, 14.—Stetun Corvette: Caton, 0 guns.
—Despatch Steamer: ('h►rptal, guns. Total, DI
vessels, $4l guns.
In addition to these squadrons, there ware at
anchor in Ilesika Bay a Dutch frigate, an American
frigate, a Swedish brig, two Austrian corvettes, a
Spanish and a Neapolitan galliot.
An ambassador trout the King of Persia had been
sent to offer to the Sultan his alliance and the assist-
ance of his anny against Russia.
A dreadful tire broke out in Constantinople on the
night of the Llth, Fuel, notwithstanding the exertions,
of the firemen, about forty-three houses were con-
sumed.

The Government of King Otho ham decided on
arming three men-of-war, to he employed for the
protection of Greek retttiects in the Levant, in cane
of the occurrence of hostilitica.

INDIA AND AI7STItALIA.
An overland mail reached Trieste on Sunday, but
brings no letters from Bombay, and no intelligence
respeeting the Chinese insurrecti .
There was no definite news from Rangoon, but it
was expected that either the treaty with the King of
Ave would be signed at once, or that our troops would
It on to AVM The Governor-General is anxious
to bring the war to a dose.

At Calltoll a French coinntodore Lad seized two.
Englishmen, and forcibly eonveyed them on 'want
of his ship, for walking near a French Hag-staff on
shore.

In Austmlia things were proceeding prospermisly.
From I 4 of January to 11th of April 41NI,INNIouncesof
gold had been shipped ; price of gold, :IL
per ounce.

tort anb lasilion.

THE Duchess of Montrose's ball, given on Friday
week, at whichthe King and Queen of Ilanover, the
Duchesses of Cambridge and Meckhzburg, and the
Princess Mary were present, was a very• brilliant
affair. It was, indeed, a ball of a class rather unu-
sual in this country, inasmuch as it seems to have
bus's intended for the diversion of married as well as•
of nn►iuirried ladies. Supper Was served at round
tables instead of in the buffet fashiiin, and all the
invited seemed much pleased. The only drawback
was the accidental ignition of a window-curtain in the
front drawing-room, which, through the exertions of
Count lientevoglio and another gentleman, waa•
promptly extinguished.
on Monday Lady Exeter's first ball in Grosvenor-
square was honoured by the presence of royalty. A
staircase, ingeniously constructed, outside the house,
much facilitated ingress and egress to the dancing-
rooms, which, from the numerous attendance of dis-
tinguished and general company, might otherwise
have been inconveniently thronged.

Mrs. Martin 'Smith's ball, on Tuesday, was, in
many respects, remarkable. Its only fault was the
excessive crowd, but this was, perhaps, to be attri-
buted to the attractions of the ball, rather than to
any fault of the host or hostess. The decoration of
the house is very pretty, though too French, and the
pictures with which the walls are adorned are less
ornamental than the Venetian lustre& The supper
was artistic and excellently served ; no lack either
of room or good cheer. On another occasion lot me
recommend a little more attention to the cloak de-
partment.
Lady Attliburnham's ball, at Bath-house, on Wed-
nesday, was one of the best of the season. The
Duchesses of Cambridge and Mecklenburg, and
the Princess Mary, were present, and remained
till a late hour. Bath-house, not remarkable for
its arehitectural excellence, is, nevertheless, well
suited for an entertainment of this kind, and,
though the pictures are, perhaps, too crowded to
be well seen, some of the best works were in-
geniously lighted, anti told with much effect.
Amongst these we may mention Itithens's " Wolf-
hunt" in the dining-room, and the Murillo in the
eastern drawing-room. If we are to find a fault, we
should say that the band was too loud, and that the
music performed, as well as the instrumentalists,
were hardly up to London ball-room mark.
On Thursday her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Oloucester gave a farewell entertainment to the King
and Queen of Hanover, which was honoured with the
presence of her Majesty and Prince Albert. The
same night Mrs. Marley gave a concert in Cavendish-
*lnoue, at which Miss L. l'yne was the principal
vocalist.
This evening her Majesty gives her last state ball.
At the Court balls etiquette in dress is fortunately
still observed. It is some satisfaction to me to think
how those gentlemen who find it too much trouble
to put on a white neckcloth, even when they are in
vital to meet members of the Royal Family, will
sutler in uniform.
Friday Evening.

Ginrs.

THE CHRISTENING of the INFANT PRINCE was per-
formed at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening,
with extraordinary pomp and splendour. All the
principal ministers were summoned at a little after six
in the evening to the private chapel, where the font of
tazza, silver-gilt, was prepared, with seats of crimson
and gold around, and the walls and seats on all sides
lined, tapestried, and decorated in divert; appropriate
fashions. The church dignitaries who officiated
were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of
London, Oxford, and Chester, the ltev. H. Howarth,
rector of St. George's, and the Revs. Gerald Wellesley,
Lord Wriothesley Russell, and G. H. Liddell. The
procession entered in order—first, that of the sponsors,
viz., the King of Hanover, the Princess of Prussia,
the Prineess Mary of Cambridge, and the l'rince of
Hohenlohe-Langenburg ; and afterwards the Queen's
procession, in which her Majesty was accompanied by
the junior members of the Royal Family, and sur-
rounded by the usual functionaries of state and cere-
mony. When the service had proceeded to the proper
point, the infant Prince was brought in, and being
presented at the font was named by the King of
Hanover, "Leopold George Duncan Albert." The
rite being concluded, the assemblage quitted the
chapel for the picture gallery, where, at eight o'clock,
the Queen gave a state banquet to a very numerous
party of guests. The christening cake was placed in
the centre of' the table, opposite to her Majesty's seat.
It was raised in three stages, the base being deco-
rated with wreaths of white and red roses. The two
upper divisions were faced with crimson satin, on
which were displayed, iu white letters, the initials
" P. L.," surmounted by a crown, varied with orna-
ments of pearls and white roses. The cake was
crowned with a golden cup filled with flowers. oval
ornaments, representing the four seasons, were placed
round the cake.
On the day after the christening the Queen visited
the Princess's Theatre, and on Thursday proceeded
to the camp at Chohhatn, and remained there some
hours witnessing a sham tight. The same evening
her Majesty was present at the fige given by the
hichess of Gloucester.
The Prince of Wales has been suffering under an
attack of measles. The symptoms appeared last
week, hut the disease never assumed a form calcu-
lated to cause the slightest anxiety, and has now
almost disappeared.
The Prince and Princess of Prussia arrived at
Dover from Ostend shortly after midnight on Sunday.
They rrtweeded to London by train in the morning,
and still remain as her Majesty's guests at. Bucking-
ham Palace.

THE ROYAL BOTANICAL SOCIETY succeeded in se-
curing a fine day for their third and last Rte on
Wednesday. Nearly eighteen thousand persons
visited the gardens in the Regent's-park on that day,
and the show, both in the botanical specimens which
gave it a title, and in the brilliant crowds which con-
stituted its real attraction, was all that could be
desired.

THE PRESS.