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

AUXILIARY FLEET FOR THE BLACK SEA.

The Courrier de Marseille of Wednesday says:

We have already stated that the government intended
to purchase the Rhone steamers for use in the Black Sea
operations. The fact, at first questioned, was afterwards
denied in a Parisian correspondence of the Indiperldeses
Bilge; but we can now affirm that the purchase has been
concluded. Captain Magnan, of our port, who has long
navigated the Black Sea and the Sea of Asoff; and is
perfectly well acquainted with the many obstaeles
attending the approach to the coasts and the entrances of
the rivers emptyieg therein, particularly for our military
navy, addressed some time ago to our government a
memorial, in which be demonstrated the impossibility of
efficaciously operating on certain important points of the
Russian territory with the means at the disposal of the
Allied Powers. He then ►howed the immense advantages
that might accrue from the application thereto of a special
asatiriel, which it was easy to borrow from our river naviga-
tion. M. Duces, then Minister of Marine, and Marshal
Valliant, Minister of War, appointed a committee to exa-
mine the questions trer.ted by the writer of the memorial,
and whose decision was entirely favourable to the plan
euggested by Captain Magnan. Some doubts re-
mained as to the inconveniences that might result
from a long sea pas►sge, effected by these let
bottomed bo►ts. Those fears were unfounded. The paddles
ensure to those boats sufficient stability in the open sea.
They derive, moreover, from their light draught of water
a degree of rapidity which lessens the chances of accident,
on the passage, and enaules them to seek refuge in the
smallest ports when menaced by a storm. The Rhone and
Saone can alone supply that new fleet, numbering 97 boats,
ready to proceed to the Black Sea. It is not our
province to mention on what terms the different companies
consented to part with that floating stock. All we can say
is that the affair was settled to the satisfaction of the pie-
ties interested and of the government, which thus finds
available unhoped for means of action. Reasons of discre-
tion and patriotism, which our readers will appreciate, do
not permit us to divulge the plan connected with the co-
operation of that valuable auxiliary fleet. We
will only say that on points where the allies could
only appear in a few light vessels, escorted by a small
number of gunboats, and Burying a few hundred men,
they may now unexpectedly show themselves in our large
river steamers, with 20,000, 30,000, and, if necessary,
60,000 men, ready to disembark, in spite of shoals, and
without being obliged to have recourse to lighters or other
landing apparatus. Our soldiers will scarcely wet their feet
on quitting the deck of those boats to occupy the shore.
The smallest of these vessels can easily accommodate SOO
men, and mount four 18-pounders, which is fully sufficient
to protect a landing without any other assistance. Those
vessels will approach every Russian beach, however low it
may be, and enter the month of every river, however in-
tricate or obstructed its channel may prove. Oar readers
can torm an Idea of the extreme mobility such
vessels will impart to our army, and of the fright-
ful rapidity with which our Geterals can tffeet
diver-
sions or land troops where least expected by the enemy.
This is all we are liberty to say with regard to the efficiency
of this coasting and river squadron. Our readers will easily
conceive the immense advantages out army will derive from
its co-operation, and the dreadful effects of its intervention
for the Russians. One of those steamers, commanded by
Captain Magnan himself, has already left the Rhone, and
arrived in our port, from whence she will shortly sail for
the Crimea. Between the month of the Rhone and Mar-
seilles the Cygue, No. 10, averaged a speed of 14 knots, in a
heavy sea and against a strong breeze. This trial is very
satisfactory. The government will wait the report which
Captain Magnan is to forward from Constantinople as to
the navigable capabilities of those vessels before it lends out
the entire light squadron.

PENINSULAR MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY Evaxmo.

The Hibernia has arrived with the Peninsular
mails, having left Lisbon on the 29th ult. She brings
eighty-four passengers. Cholera has broken out at
Oporto. The all-absorbing topic at Lisbon is the
reception and proclamation of the King.
The Foreign exchanges are dull.
Bank of Lisbon notes are at one per cent. discount.
Exchange on London, 30 days, 531; 90 days, 641.
The Madagascar had left Gibraltar with horsy, and
mules for the Crimea.

Sir Richard Bambara, the British Minister, is
shortly expected at Lisbon.

The Prince of Orange is expected at Gibraltar.
In Portugal the corn crop is abundant, and much
will be exported,

glx (Tour*.

OSBORNE. Almon S. 1
Us Qum sad royal family took their anal
Mr I=7e.woured Er. J. Dash= with a sittiag to
abut slam to la assisated.

• depstedes en His esteset of the bill now before the
31 me of Lark Mt tbe sesendmint of the Sands, Bear
AM, bed es interview with Bari Granville, at the Conseil.
011" yeseerday. The clepstaties eosaisted of Mr. Foster,
president ; Mr. Han* treasurer ; and Mr. &ems, seem-
buy, of the Licensed Vbtaellers' Defence Association ; Mr.
p. Spirett, on behalfetthe LicansedVieteallers of Lords and
the Operative Societies of the West &dingo( Yorkshire; and
George Candelet, on behalf of the Amalgamated
Friendly Sedalia of Masehester, Stockport, and Hyde.
The depstatioa was iatrodseed by the Hon. H. Berkeley,
M.P. for Bristol, and accompanied by /12. Whlteharst,
solicitor to the Defence Assecistiod.
Sir Alexander Spearman bad as Interview with the Max-
ocialler el the Bachman, ye tardily, at his traria resides**,
Is Dowsing street.
Despetsbee win seat yesterday front the Cabriolet-Mks
to the Governor of Canada and the Governors of die North
Misrissa Provisoes.