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

TILE PRESS.

surgeons condemned no less than 140 horses out of the
Royal Artillery alone. The mounted staff corps is now
reduced to about twenty-eight effectives.
The French workmen have made considerable progress
with the new batteries on our right. On the left they were
exposed to a heavy fire from four till half-past four o'clock,
and the Russians blew up another French magazine inside
the batteries. They at once opened fire along their lines
with six tremendous salvos of artillery, and rushed up on
their parapets and gave three loud ringing cheers. The
damage done by the explosion was very insignificant, and
before the Russians had ceased cheering, the French took
their revenge by discharging a tremendous volley of
heavy shells, which burst, on the walls of the Admiral%
house, and silenced for a time the guns in No. 3 Battery
at the Flagstaff Fort.
The railway progresses very rapidly, and has now
reached a point 300 yards from the town.
The French mortar batteries are within 1,300 metres of
the inner batteries of the Russians. A sortie of insignifi-
cant strength was made by the garrison last night, and was
repulsed, as usual. The French lost five men only.
The utmost secrecy is observed respecting our future
operations, and much of the information one gleans is im-
parted "in confidence," is of dubious authority, and is
generally of a nature to demand concealment. Any time
from " this day week "to " the beginning of April may
be taken as the period for the reopening of our batteries.
Strict orders have been issued that artillery and engineer
officers are not to give information respecting our works to
any one but officers entitled to demand it, and infantry
officers are not allowed to get any details concerning the
works and armaments. These orders are so stringent that
no officer, unless he be known to the sentries, is allowed to
go through our lines above Balaklava ; and the restriction
applies even to naval officers, and to all officers of regi-
ments not actually stationed on the spot.
FEB. 14.—The great topic of conversation and gossip
to-day is the recal of the Earl of Lncan from the command

of the cavalry division. The circumstances under which
this unusual exercise of authority has taken place are not
very accurately known, except to a few officers to whom
Lord Lucan has communicated them, but the prevailing
impression among those who are likely to be well-informed
is certainly to the effect that the step is not justifiable on
the grounds set forth for taking it. In a divisional order
last night Lord Lucan takes his farewell of the division,
and assures them of his good wishes, and of the interest he
takes in their future career. He paid a farewell visit to
General Canrobert yesterday, lint he did not pay his res•
pects to Lord Raglan before he departed. The noble lord
has taken a passage in the Jason, which sails to-morrow
for Constantinople, and he is accompanied by his son and
aide-de-camp, Lord Bingham. The temporary command
of the cavalry devolves upon Major-General Scarlett, bri-
gadier of the heavy cavalry brigade.

FEB. 15.—A1l last night it blew a heavy gale, and many
of the tents were scattered to the winds, yet in spite of the
violence of the wind the heat of the atmosphere is almost
incredible. The gale, which is from the southwest, strikes
like a hot blast from an oven. Everything is parched
under the influence of this siroc, which is described as
being precisely like the harmatan that blows off the coast
of Africa in summer. It seems something almost super-
natural to see a gale of extreme violence sweeping over the
land, yet the air so close, dull, and oppressive as to hinder
anything like very active exertion. Our camp ground,
which the day before yesterday was a mere swamp, is now
without a vestige of moisture, and the clay baked hard and
white as in the heat of summer, whilst clouds of dust ob-
scure everything. Foreigners complain of the variations
of the English climate ; but nothing can possibly exceed
the rapidity of the alternation from heat to cold which we
have lately undergone. The surgeons augur most unfa-
vorably for the condition of the sick while the atmosphere
remains in this unsettled state.

Orders from head-quarters were issued today warning
all officers to impart no information of any sort or kind to
unauthorised persons, and also that no strangers, or per-
sons unknown to officers in command of positions, be al-
lowed to pass the lines.
Typhus fever has shown itself among the remnant of
the Guards. This gallant but most unfortunate brigade
now only musters 303 effective men. The still more un-
fortunate 63rd have been sent to the heights near Bala-
klava, where they muster to the number of some twenty men,
principally oMcers' soldier-servants. Typhus also pre-
vailed to some extent among the 93rd Highlanders, but is
now diminishing. 129 men were invalided to-day.

FED. 16.—There was another sortie laatnight., which the
French repulsed with a loss of thirty-five killed and
wounded and missing. The Rnssians lost at least as many
in their hasty retreat. The works on our right are in
splendid order. The roads have dried so rapidly as to ad-
mit of the passage of artillery. The railroad is now corn•
pleted for about 900 yards from the town towards Kadikoi.
The division of General Bosquet on our right and in
rear of our right flank was reinforced to day by upwards of
R,OOO men, ao that it is quite probable the rumours we
bear of a reconnaissance in force being likely to take place
in a few days under his command are true, and that the
mysterious disappearance of the Russians from onr rear
*ill be explained and their present position ascertained.

All the enemy's defences are in admirable order, and the
general opinion is, that when we recommence the attack
we shall discover more ordnance in their works than we
now anticipate. All oar new guns are ready, and only
wait a sufficient supply of shot and shell to begin their
music. The labour of transporting the ammunition is very
great. So bad are the roads that an artiUerywaggon, con-
stroctod for the purpose and drawn by four horses, can only
make one trip a day with six thirteen-inch shells. It is

in, and they have alrrady collected a considerable store of
ammunition. The principal depitt from whence these are
tiv;twn is in a deep ravine, near our left attack, called the
" Valley of Death," and here round-shot, grape, and pieces
of shell cover the ground sometimes to the depth of • foot
or eighteen inches. From this store the sailors have accu-
mulated some large piles of shot, principally thirty-twos,
and by their labours the toil of getting them up front Bala-
klava has been considerably abridged. Had the tramway
only been thought of a month earlier we might have bad
all Woolwich Arsenal round the place by now. None can
tell when we are to open fire_certainly not much before
the end of this month, if even then.

The condition of our camp to-day is miserable in the
last degree. Not live per cent of the troops are hutted yet,
and now that it is supposed that the severity of the winter
is over, even the present attempts may not be persevered in.
The Ralitklava railway is now nearly a mile in length.
There is not a single division of the English army which
could march a day's march to meet an enemy, if all their
lives depended on it. For the transport of artillery, spare
ammunition, baggage, and commissariat stores, each divi-
sion would at the very least require 1,5410 horses, and fur
such work the whole army could not turn out 300 effective.

THE BALTIC FLEET. I
The Hampshire Telegraph publishes, as being de-
rived from authentic sources, the following list of the
vessels intended to form the gigantic armada of
England, comprising, as Sir J. Graham announced,
" one hundred pennants," which will he despatched
in the course of the present year for service in the
Baltic :

Commander-in-Chief-Rear-Admiral of the Blue the
Hon. Richard Saunders I)undas, C.B.
Second in Command-Rear-Admintlef the Blue Michael
Seymour.
Third in Commani-
Lambert Baynes, C.ll.
Captain of the Fleet-The Hon. F. I'. Pelham.
Tux Sursnxox.-Duke of Wellington (Flag), 181
guns, 700-horse power; Royal George, Captain Codring-
ton, C. 8., 102, 400; Exmouth flog), 91, 400; James
Watt, Captain George Elliott, 91, 600; Orion, Captain
Erskine, 91, 000; Cesar, Captain Robb, 91, 400 ; Nile,
Captain Mundy, 01, 500; Majestic, Captain J. Hope, C. 8.,
81, 400; Cressy, Captain Warren, 81, 400; Colossus,
Captain Robinson, 81, 400; Sanspariel, Captain Heath,
70, 350; Blenheim, Captain W. H. Hall, 60, 450; Hogue,
Captain Ramsay, 60, 450; Ajax, Captain Warden, 60, 450;
Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett, 60, 450 ; Russell, Captain
Scott, 00, 200; Hawke, Captain Erasmus Ommanney, 60,
200; Cornwallis, Captain Wellesley, 60, 200; Pembroke,
Captain G. H. Seymonr, 60, 200; Hastings, Captain
Catlin, 60, 200; Imperieuse, Captain Watson, C.B. 51,
360 ; Euryalus, Captain Ramsay, 51, 400 ; Arrogant, Cap-
tain Yelverton, 47, 300; Amphlon, Captain A. C. Key, 84,
300; Horatio, Captain Cochrane, 24, 250; Cossack, Cap-
tain Fanshawe, 21, 050; Pyladea, Captain D'Eyneourt, 21,
250 ; Esk, Captain T. F. Birch, 21, 250; Tartar, Captain
Dunlop, 21, 250 ; Archer, Captain Heathoote, 17, 200 ;
Retribution, Captain Fisher, 28,400 ; Magicienne, Captain
Tatham, 16, 400; Clain, Captain Willcox, 16, 500; Samp-
son, Captain Brock, 6, 467 ; Dragon, Captain Stewart, (I,
560 ; Bulldog Captain W. K. Mall, 6, 500 ; Penelope, Cap-
tain Sir W. Wiseman, 18, 650; Lightning, Captain It. J.
Sulivan, 3, 100 ; Vulture, Captain Glasse, 6, 470 ; Des-
perate, Commander White, 8, 400; Conflict, Commander
Cumming, 8, 400 ; Cruiser, Commander the Hon. C.
Douglas, 14, 60 ; Harrier, Commander Story, 14, 160 ;
Ariel, Commander Luce, 9, 60; leaner, Commander
Pullen, 17, 100; Basilisk, Commander the lion. F. Eger-
ton, (1, 400 ; Rosamond, Commander Crofton, (1, 286;
Driver, Commander Rice, 6, 280; Janus, Lieutenant
Kane, 4, 220; Locust Lieutenant -, 3, 180; Otter,
Lieutenant W. A. J. Heath, 3, 120 ; Porcupine, Lieutenant
Jackson, 8, 132; Zephyr, Lieutenant Bond, 3, 100; Re-
cruit, Lieutenant J. F. Day, 4, 160; Weser, Lieutenant
Commerell, 4, 160. _ _

of the Blue Robert

FLOATING fiATTERIES.—Attna, 16 guns; Glutton, 16 ;
Meteor, 16 ; Thunder, 16 ; Trusty, 16. Horse power not
published.
MORTAR VESRET.S.—BIazer, 1 ; Firn, 1 ; Hardy, 1 ;
Havoc. 1 ; Manly, 1; Mastiff, 1 ; Porcupine, I ; Surly, I.
Horse power not published.
STEAM GITN-noars.—Gleaner, 6; Pelter, 3; Pincher, 8;
Ruby, 3 ; Tenzer, ; Badger, 3 ; Snapper, 3 ; Biter, 2 ;
Boxer, 2 ; Clinker, 2 ; Cracker, 2 ; Dapper, 2 ; Fancy, 2 ;
Grinder, 2; Hind, 2 ; Jackdaw, 2 ; Jasper, 2; Jack 2 ;
Magpie, 2 ; Redwing, 2 ; Skylark, '2; Snap, 2; Starling,
2 ; Stork, 2; Swinger, 2 ; Thistle, 2 ; Weasel, 2 ; Pigmy, 2.
Belleisle, 24, Commander Hosken, hospital ship. /Eolus,
42, ammunition magazine. Perseverance, store ship.
Volcano, engineers' floating factory, Master Commander
Dyer.
The operations in the Baltic this spring will, it is
officially stated, be conducted on a scale of extra-
ordinary magnitude. In addition to the naval forces
of England, which are to consist of one hundred
steamers, France will send fifty steam-vessels and a
powerful land armament, which is now stationed
(says Galignani) along the coast from Calais to
Cherl,ourg. For the conveyance of these troops, and
all tit war markt, the French Government have
entered into a contract with an English company,
the representative of which is at present in Pans, an
arrangement which will have the advantage of
leaving the vessels of war to officiate with all their
power against the great Russian strongholds in the
Gulf of Finland.