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

TRAVELLING AGENCY TO THE NATIONAL

GALLERY.

On bringing up the report of the committee of
supply on Wednesday, Mr. OTWAY took exception to
the appointment of a German, M. Mundler, as
salaried travelling agent to the National Gallery.
Some other members said that such an appointment
was an insult to British artists.
Mr. WILSON defended it, saying that Mr. Mundler
possessed an accurate knowledge both of the conti
nental museums, and, what was equally needful, the
continental languages. Mr. Mundlor had been ap.
proved by Lord Aberdeen. If any English artist
could have been found with equal qualifications he
would have been appointed.
A division took place, when the salary was allowed
by 45 to 38.

LIMITED LIABILITIES BILL.
This bill passed the Commons on Thursday, after
protests from Mr. CARDWELL and some other
members.

The Sale of Beer Bill, which permits the public-
houses to be open on Sundays from one to three, and
from five to eleven, was read a second time in the
Commons on Monday, after some opposition. It
passed on Thursday in the morning, and was read a
first time in the evening in the Lords.
The regium donum met with some opposition when
the vote was taken in supply on Monday. A division
gave 90 for, and 32 against, the grant.
The estimates for the British and Irish Universi-
ties and Colleges, Hospitals, and Public Establish-
ments, voted on Monday and Tuesday, amounted to
about 750,0001.
Lord PALMERSTON stated on Monday that the ses-
sion would close on the 14th, or at latest the 15th of
this month.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought up on
Wednesday a message from the Queen, calling upon
her faithful Commons to make provision for any ad
ditional expenditure that might arise on account of
the war, which message was ordered to be referred to
a committee of supply.
The Charitable Trusts Bill, after a short discus-
sion, was read a second time on Thursday.

THE EASTERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY, which has
been established for laying down a submarine tele-
graph, in the first instance, between the Dardanelles
and Alexandria, have obtained from the Sublime
Porte an exclusive right to telegraphic communica-
tion between Egypt and the Ottoman dominions in
Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia Minor, for a
term of fifty years, and have already secured an in•
come of 4,5001. for twenty years from the Turkish
Government, for the transmission of official mes-
sages. The capital of the company is fixed at
present at 120,0001.; but, as the promoters have
already marked out a line by which the telegraph
will be extended to India, provision is made for
augmenting the capital to 850,000/. Responsible
contractors have offered to complete the line from
the Dardanelles within twelve months from this
time, and to hand it over to the company, complete
and efficient, for the sum of 88,0001. The other
expenses are not expected to exceed 17,0001.; and
it is, therefore, considered that the capital will be
sufficient for the efficient working of the enterprise.
A SOVEREIGN STATE has disappeared from the map
of Europe. Kniphausen has collapsed into a seig-
nory of the Grand Duke of Oldenburg. The impor-
tant fact is notified in an ordonnance just published
by the Minister of State for Oldenburg. Kniphausen
was the smallest State of the Germanic Confederation;
its population did not exceed 3,500 souls, nor its
territory 4,500 hectares. It was united to Oldenburg
in 1813, but the Congress of Vienna not having re•
cognised the incorporation, its separate rights have
been kept alive with Prussian aid until the present
time. The Oldenburg Minister announces that the
right of Kniphausen to a separate national flag has
now ceased.

EGOVERNMENT is seriously engaged (according to
the Atheneum) with the question of a new National
Gallery. Ministers feel that the present mode of
exhibiting the national pictures—at Windsor,
Hirnpton Court, the British Museum, the National
Gallery, and Marlborough-house—is eminently un-
satisfactory. Plans are before them for the consoli-
dation of these galleries.

THE PRESS.

THE WAR.

No recent intelligence from the camp has been
published either by the English or French Govern-
ments. The report continues to be that active
hostilities are in abeyance, but that the allies are
briskly carrying forward their approaches and arming
new batteries, with the intention of renewing the
assault very shortly under more favorable conditions
than heretofore. The French works have been
carried to within sixty yards of the Malakoff Tower.
General Pelissier is said to be determined not to
make another assault until he is certain of success.
He examines every inch of ground, and has decided to
leave nothing to chance. It is stated that the British
Commissariat has concluded a contract for 9,000,000
of rations of dried vegetables, to be delivered at the
rate of 1,500,000 rations per month.
The latest dates from the Crimea are contained in
a despatch from Prince Gortschakutf, who announces
on the 30th of July that:—

Nothing of importance had occured before Sebastopol.
The enemy continues a partial cannon►de. We reply
vigorously.
Adverting to rumours of the recal and return of
General Simpson, the Post observes, in a semi-official
tone :

These rumours are without foundation, as not only has
General Simpson not been recalled, but there is no reason
to suspect the slightest intention of recalling him. At the
same time, it is proper to state that General Simpson's
health is not of the strongest, and that, therefore, it will
excite but little surprise if he find himself unable to cope
for a protracted period with the vast labours and incessant
anxieties of the chief command. It is not probable, in the
event of General Simpson coming home, that a new corn-
mander-in-chtef will.be sent out from England, as Lord Rag-
lan was almost the only one of the veterans of our last
great war that was really fit for service.
Advices of the 29th from the Crimea announce
the preparations for a grand expedition. The whole
of the lighter vessels of the fleet had concentrated
in Kamiesch Bay. The destination of the expe-
dition was unknown.
The embarkation of troops and material continues
uninterruptedly at Marseilles and Toulon.
The allies have agreed to allow merchant ships
to enter Kertch, and to take corn on board, on con-
dition of landing a third of their cargoes at certain
points indicated.
The Russians are stated to be erecting works called
"Cavaliers," behind Malakoff.
The exchange of prisoners of war still continues.
The French officers speak highly of their treatment
by the Russians.
A reinforcement of 3,000 Piedmontese will leave
Genoa for the Crimea about the middle of August.
Egyptian reinforcements are preparing for the
Crimea. The Viceroy is in negotiation with the
Bedouins to serve in the war against Russia.
The Russian engineer, General Todtleben, is not
dead. According to the latest accounts, he was
merely wounded, and is now declared convalescent.
Schamyl, whose death was also reported, is now
stated to be not only alive, but preparing to descend
from the mountains and attack Tiflis.
A despatch from Trebizond of July 20 says that
the Russians have huspended operations, and con-
fined themselves to naming governors for the vil-
lages in the province of Kars. Ten guns have been
sent to Erzeroum, which is now defended by 15,000
men. Reinforcements are continually leaving Con-
stantinople for Trebizond.
The communication between Kars and Erzeroum
is completely re-established.
Omer Pacha was received with extraordinary
honours in Constantinople, but does not seem to
have succeeded in obtaining the obj,ct of his visit.
lie wished for some independent command, and
offered to head the Turkish army in Asia, but the
Porte has resolved on sending him back to the Crimea.
The preparations (says the Vienna Military Gazette)
made by the allies for wintering in the Crimea are of truly
astonishing proportions. Kamiesch, Balaklava, Enpatoria,
Yenikale, have become military establishments of im-
mense importance. The works at the two first•named
places more particularly are of a character to retain their
importance even if the siege of Sebastopol were abandoned.
The possession of these positions will compel the Russians
to keep a large army in the Crimea. It is believed that
the arrangements for the campaign of 1856 include the
concentration of an army at Varna, Burgos, and on the
Bosphorus, while the field artillery, cavalry, and means of
transport will be stronger than that in the Crimea, and to
which detachments of the army now in the Crimea would
be added preparatory to operations in a new field. Whether
the Karabelnia suburb be taken and the Russian fleet
destroyed, or the next assault be repulsed, the siege will
equally be raised, and only the four points above named be
occupied.

The following official despatches have been re-
ceived at the War-office this week:—

Before Sebastopol, July 21.
I have great pleasure to inform your lordship that the
health of the army has greatly improved ; cholera has
nearly disappeared, and although more sickness has ap•

SATURDAY,

peered amongst the officers, it is not of that character to
cause uneasiness.
With reference to the exterior army, the Russians hold
their strong position on the Mackenzie heights, extending
by Aitodor to Albat, with advanced posts by Chouli, Ogen •
bush, and the strong range of heights overhanging Urkusta
and the valley of Raider. It is reported they have also a
force of artillery and infantry at Aloupka. The French
have pushed forward the whole of their cavalry into the
valley of Haider, resting upon the Sardinians, upon the
left bank of the Souhai River, and communicating with
the French upon the Tachernays, whilst the high ridge
protecting Balaklava is guarded by the Turkish army.
I purpose sending four squadrons of light cavalry into
the valley of Haider to-morrow, to protect and afford con-
voys to the commissariat for the purpose of bringing in
forage and supplies for the use of the army.
Major-General Markham arrived on the 19th instant,
and, agreeable to the instructions conveyed in your lord-
ship's telegraphic message, I have appointed hint to the
command of the 2nd division.
Sir Stephen Lushington, K.C.13., having been promoted
to the rank of admiral, has been relieved in the command of
the naval brigade by Capt. Hon. H. Keppel. I take this
opportunity of recording my sense of the ability and zeal
with which he has throughout conducted his arduous and
responsible situation of commanding the naval brigade,
which has rendered such excellent service in our batteries.
I beg also to report to your lordship that Mr. Comumis-
sary•General Filder has been obliged to relinquish the com-
mand of his important department, and will have to return
to England upon the recommendation of a medical board.
JAMES SIMPSON, Lieut. General Commanding.

An address of condolence from the Queen to the
army on the death of Lord Raglan was communicated
to the camp in General Orders on the 18th ult. as
follows :

Her Majesty the Queen has been pleased to command
me to express to the army her Majesty's deep and heart.
felt grief at the loss of our gallant and excellent commander,
Lord Raglan, which has cast a gloom over the whole service.
Her Majesty further desires to assure her army of her
earnest hope and confident trust that all will continue to do
their duty as they have hitherto so nobly done ; and that
her Majesty will ever be as proud of her army as she has
been, though their brave chief, who has so often led them
to victory and glory, has been taken from them.
JAMES SIMPSON, Lieut.-General Commanding.

In addition to the above General Order, a retrospect
of the career and eulogium on the character of the
late Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, signed by the
Commander-in-Chief, Lord Hardinge, has been pub-
lished and read to the troops in the Crimea.

SIEGE CHRONICLE.
The last letters from the camp are of the 21st ult.,
conveying intelligence of the siege operations between
the 14th and that date. The following are extracts
from the diary of the Times correspondent:—

JULY 15.—High winds have prevailed during the past
twenty-four hours, and dusky clouds fly along the sky,
while the air has become damp and chilly even at noon-
day. But this will last but a few days, and then the heats
of August will parch the ground once more, wells and tanks
will again yield but a scanty supply, and summer will last
until far into the month of September. To-day there has
been heavy firing between the Malakoff and the advanced
French batteries. Last night the Russians made a sortie
from the Malakoff on the 16th of the French Line, who
were at work. The affair took place about ten o'clock and
lasted nearly an hour, ending as usual in the Russians
being repulsed and retreating to their works, after more or
less delaying those of the French. The loss of the French
is stated by them to be two officers and thirty men hiss de
combat, but from the duration and magnitude of the struggle
it would appear to have been much greater. The French
have pushed their works almost to the abattis of the Ma-
lakoff, and are so near that a man may throw a stone into
the Russian position. The abattis is described to be a
truly formidable obstacle. It is formed of trunks of oak
and beech from the woods of the Crimea, and is more than
six feet in height. Attempts will no doubt be made to
destroy it with shot and shell before making any flesh
assault. The Russians may still be observed continually
at work on this position, which is now the recognised key
of Sebastopol. They have also been engaged lately in re-
pairing the works of the Redan. which had suffered much
from the continual fire of the English batteries. Last
night a little sortie took place also on the French left, but,
although the fire was heavy while it lasted, the affair was
soon over. It is felt that nothing will be done on this
part of the position, and that the real point of attack will
he the Malakoff works, the capture of which will render
the Redan untenable, and make the surrender of the south
side of the place merely a question of a few weeks.
JULY 16.—Heavy firing last night and this morning.
Never since the beginning of the siege were both parties
so thoroughly in earnest as at present. The exchange of
shot and shell is almost incessant. The French, of course,
can be supplied with these munitions of war to any extent,
but to the means of their adversaries there must be, one
would think, some limit. That there are foundries in Se-
bastopol there can belittle doubt—some of the shot thrown
at us is perfectly smooth and new, and seems just turned
out—besides which, it is impossible to believe that a great
naval arsenal can be without the means of manufacturing
its own munitions. Powder-mills probably also exist; but
in both these cases the question occurs as to where the
material for the manufacture is to come from. A small
supply of iron may be obtained by recasting our shot and
the pieces of shell, but probably a great part of the former
goes into the harbour, and the supply is too small and
precarious for it to be believed that a Government like the
Russian would depend on it. It seems more probable that
an organised system of transport feeds Sebastopol with
munitions as well as corn, and that during the stunmer