The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-09 00:00:00

CAVALRY.

16 squadrons cavalry (Arabistany), average 90 mea 1,410
16 ditto (Anatolian), ditto 100 men 1,660
6 ditto (redif), ditto 100 men 6OO

8,700
13 batteries of six pieces each, 78 pieces 1,300
Making a grand total of 2..5,000. To this must be added
some 4,000 or 5,000 bashi hazouks, who took no part in
the fight.
The Russian force was much stronger than the Turks
had calculated, and was composed of the following arms:-
20 battalions infantry, average strength, eOO men
26 squadrons dragoons, ditto 100 men
20 ditto Cossacks, ditto 100 men 2,000
ti batteries of eight pieces each, 64 pieces

With some 4,000 irregulars.
The following plan of attack had been formed by
General Guyon, the head of the staff, and adopted by the
Muchir, Zarif Mustapha Pacha:—The Russian camp was
to be menaced by two detachmunts of bashi bazooka, who
were to attack it on the two flanks. The heights which
covered the left wing were to be attacked, and carried by
five battalions. The maiu body was to attack the front,
merely opposing the Rust.ian left wing with cavalry. (It was
the idea of the chief of the staff that the ►tussians would
have twined the left wing with their cavalry, which did not
take place. They attacked the right wing and turned
it with their cavalry ) The bashi bazouks had orders to
march at twelve at night, the detachment of five battalions
at one o'clock in the morning, and the main body at half
past one. The entire army was to be before the Russian
camp at daybreak, and to attack it at once. The above
was the plan of battle, but how was it executed ? The
bashi bazouks did not appear on either flank. The arwy
was divided into two divisions or wings, without a centre,
but with their respective reserves. The division which

845

farmed the laft wing did not start at its filed Lime, and,
having lost its way in the night, arrived two hours after the
battle had commenced. This division was commanded by
ly and with it were the Muchir and the chief of
the staff.

The division commanded by Kerlin Pacha, advised by
Feral Bey (Geueral t'ultneur), and forming the tight wing,
alone executed the order with punctuality. Having ar-
rived before the Russian camp, Kerlin Paella took up posi•
tion on some heights, and awaited the arrival of the left
wing. The Russians, by their spies or through treachery,
bad been informed of the ?duehies intentions, and had
oaken measures to frustrate them. Ihrybreak, instead of
surprising the Russians in their camp, discovered them
drawn up in position, their camp and baggage in the rear,
on the other side of the river Karstsehai. The enemy was
thus enabled to iniurteuvre with freedom : he had also
taken up a good position, and awaited the Turkish attack,
and by his Armenian and Oeorgian irregulars had prevented
the flank movements projected by the bashi bazouks. In a
word, he was acquainted with all our intentions, and had
taken his steps in consequence. The division on the
right, under herim dacha, had then already established
itself on the heights, whilst the left division under Vely
Pacha was still absent. To this want of punctuality must
the less of the baule be attributed.
The Russian general, Prince liebutoff, seeing before him
but one of the OLWIIItUI divisions, and perceiving that the
second could not arrive before -he expiration of one or two
hours, concentrated his whole etrengli, and, leaving his
former position, fell upon Kerlin I'acha. After a
sanguinary struggle, in which the attacks of the Russians
were repeatedly repelled, this division, left to its own
resources, and decimated by the numerous artillery opposed
to it, was forced to give way, the more so as the redif or
militia battalion had never seen fire, and, having broken
up and tied, prevented Kerim Pacha from taking up another
position iu the rear. The Russian dragoons, mad with
drink, threw themselves blindly against the tire of the
infantry and repeated showers of grape. The Turkish
cavalry having fled, the dragouus penetrated into the
already disbanding battalions, and committed sad havoc.
At this moment the Turkish left wing approached, and by its
presence stopped the pursuit. The left wing at once threw
itself upon the Russians, and hurled them back. At this
period fortune appeared to shine upon the Ottoman arms.
The Cossacks had been ridden over by the Turkish cavalry,
whilst the Russian infantry commenced retreating.
Encouraged, however, by its officers, who were ever in the
front (the exact reverse of the Turkish commanders), the
infantry returned to its duty, and the dragoons, who bad
returned from their slaughter, fell upon and utterly defeated
part of the Turkish cavalry. The Russian infantry ad-
vanced, and attacked the remaining cavalry, who tied at once.
The Turkish infantry likewise recoiled and disbanded. Not
two men remained together, and the whole country was
covered with groups of fugitives. The artillery poured in
grape upon them, whilst the cavalry wade hundreds of
prisoners. The Turkish artillery had already disappeared,
which accounts fur its safety. Fifteen pieces ouly, which
were dismounted, were left on the field of battle. The
Russians had suffered too severely to follow up the retreat-
ing mass, or the whole army would have been captured. The
fugitives made, some fur Kars, others to their native homes.
whilst many, fatigued to death, threw themselves to sleep
on the green grass. The garrison of Kars was under arms,
and restored a little order. No one was allowed to enter
the town without a pass, and thus pillage, which would
otherwise have happened, was prevented. The has is sup-
posed to amount to about 2,500 killed and wounded, '2,500
prisoners, and 2,000 fugitives who returner to their homes
.Che Russian loss was heavy, and could not have been
under 1,500 to 2,1,00 killed and wounded. Neither army
displayed soy military qualities. The Russian cavalry was
alone good, but then it was unopposed by a respectable
adversary. Their artillery was very badly managed. The
guns were pointed too high, and little damage was three.
The noise of their reports had fur more effect on the
Turkish trops than their actual execution. Their shells
were equally harmless, all exploding in the air. The Rus-
sian iufantry behaved badly. As to the conduct. of the
Turkish troops, it was shameful. Never was greater
cowardice displaced both by the officers and the men. The
timid militia regiments were mixed up with the Arabistany
soldiers, who would, perhaps, have fought well had they not
been deserted by their comrades. The European officers
',relieved well, and did not save their persons. Owing to
the enemy having abaudoned his pursuit, the greater part
of the baggage and tents were saved. Although the
number of killed and missing is not extreme, the battle was
decisive ; and whenever it may be agreeable fur the Russians
to advance they will do su without molestation. Kars,
Erzerourn, and the whole of ermenia will be invaded,
should it Is, the policy of Russia to do so. No resistance
will Ire offered, for the troops are utterly demoralised and
cowed : at the first cannon-shot they will flee. Such are
the bitter prospects of Asiatic Turkey.

Advices from Malta to the 2nd inst. Mate that the
Golden Fleece arrived there that day, and left for the
East, having the 21st Regiment on board. The
Spiteful had left fur the same destination, having
one transport in tow. Several French transports,
with troops and horses on board, had also prooeudeti
to the East.

THE PRISONERS.
The Algiers screw steam-ship, Captain Cherie"
Talbot, arrived (at the Nore on Thursday. She left
Ledsund on the 20th ult., having embarked, on the
evening of the 19th, 400 rank and file of Russian
and Russian-Fin soldiers. On the morning of the
20th embarked 8 officers, 2 ladies, 11 women, and
5 children, making a total of 426.
The following Russian officers are brought home
in the Algiers :—Captain Essanloff, Captain Schweloff

(the latter of the artillery), Lieutenant Pischtshchon-
lin, Lieutenant Agafnoff (sub.), Ensign Perimiloffshi,
Ensign Standewitsch, of Engineers, Ensign Lubinoff,
and Ensign Lunieff, of the Engineers, all of whom
partook of the comforts of the ward-room mess, with
the two ladies, wives of two of the said officers.
The Russian-Fins messed on the starboard side of
the lower deck, and the Russians on the port side.
The Russian Fins are, generally speaking, fine, tall,
well-made, muscular, soldierliko-looking men. Many
of the Russians are also well made men, and are
evidently soldiers of some standing, being well be-
haved, disciplined, and well set up. There appears
all but a deadly hatred of the Russian-Fins against
the Russians, and nothing can induce them either
to mess or associate together.
The prisoners and crew have had repeated attacks
of diarrheas, but, from the system adopted by the
surgeon of the ship of continually visiting them, day
and night, with his assistant, and by carefully watch-
ing such cases, the epidemic was restrained, and only
a few deaths occurred among the prisoners.
Further batches of Russian prisoners have also
arrived in the St. Vincent and Termagant, which
reached the Downs and Spithead respectively on
Wednesday.
The scale of victualling the Russian prisoners of
war is to be two-thirds of A.B. allowance, except in
bread : that article of food is to be served out to
them in full allowance, viz., lib. of biscuit, or lilb. of
soft bread. Their articles of weekly food will be as
follows : —Biscuit or soft bread, sugar, tea or choco-
late, oatmeal, mustard, pepper, vinegar, fresh meat
daily (when it can be procured), or fresh vegetables,
salt pork or salt beef, peas, flour, suet, and currants
or raisins, when fresh meat cannot be obtained.
They express themselves highly satisfied with their
rations, and declare they eat more meat in one week
where they now are than they could obtain in one
month when they were at home. Stores of every
description for the purposes of cleanliness, such as
washtubs, soap, towels, &c., will be liberally served
out to each mess ; also mess-traps for use.
Nineteen wounded Russian prisoners have been
sent to Helsingfors to be exchanged against the
captives of the Valorous.

CHANCES OF THE SEBASTOPOL EXPEDITION
This great expedition, whose magnitude will exceed that
of any other in history, is not like the petty enterprises to
which the world has been accustomed in late years. Se-
bastopol is likely to prove very different from St. Jean
d'Ulloa or St. Jean dAcre, from Ghuznee or Moultan.
Ultimate victory is indeed certain ; for engineers report
that the place, though strong, is not impregnable ; and, even
if it were, a strict blockade by land and sea would compel the
garrison to yield from famine. Such fortresses as Valetta
or Gibraltar, with their 5,(1X) or 6,000 men, may be pro•
visioned for years ; but such a course is impossible in the
case of an army of 70,000 men defending a range of posi-
tions of large extent, and enclosing the population of a
large naval town and the crews of an imprisoned fleet.
At least 100,000 souls are encircled by the fortifications of
Sebastopol, and what is known of the resources and the
commissariat of Russia does not lead us to suppose that
the Government can have supplied the sustenance of such
a host for more than a few short months. Supposing, then,
the Russians too weak to keep the field, or to preserve open
their communications with the main land and with Kertch,
we may assume the difficulties of the confined garrison to
be almost overwhelming. But, on the other hand, it will not
do to despise the enemy, and to rush into enterprises with-
out contemplating the events that may arise. Everything
leads to the belief that this great fortress of the Russian
power, on which all the skill and resources of the empire have
been employed for forty years, which holds Turkey and Cir-
cassia under a spell, and guards and threatens the mouths of
theiDanube, the Don, and the Kuban, will be defended to
the last. Every one who has approached the place speaks of
the fortifications which are continually rising, and of the
alacrity with which the garrison turns out, and the town is
lighted up at the smallest alarm. During many months
the land defences have proceeded at a rapid rate, the skill
of the Russian engineers is beyond a doubt, and now the
evacuation of the principalities will allow the Czar to in-
crease the forces which will defend this important spot.
The best troops of the empire were stationed on the Aus-
trian frontiers to guard it from the troops of Francis
Joseph, or, in turn, to invade hie dominions. Now that all
danger of attack from the side of Germany is past, all
these will be available for service in the south, and the ap-
proaching frosts of winter in the Baltic will set free the
legions who garrison Riga, Revel, and the adjacent coasts.
A general move to the southern seat of war is practicable,
and another month may see the forces in the Crimea greatly
strengthened, and the whole power of the Czar brought to
bear upon this single point. Among the best soldiers of
Russia are the members of the military colonies in the
south, and these will be doubtless employed in the cam-
paign which is likely to commence. That Sebastopol can
be taken by a coup de main no one has asserted, and the
continual embarkation of siege artillery, fascines, and pi-
bions announces (that the generals expect a series of
engineering operations such as is necessary against any
place fortified with modern skill, and defended by even
average valour. Independent of the reinforcements and
supplies sent by land, it is said, on respectable authority,
that the enemy have been able to keep up a constant com-
munication between Sebastopol and the other places on
the coast. It is so seldom that a vessel of the allies ap-
proaches the harbour, that the governor has been embol-
dened to run steamers to Nicolaieff, at the mouth of the

THE PRESS.

Bug, and to bring back stores, artillery, ammunition, and
even troops. He took the masts oat of these vessels to
render them less perceivable at a distance, and sent them
along the coast with impunity. One of the new forts was
said to have been mounted with guns conveyed in this
manner. The operations in the Crimea will no doubt
include a campaign in the field, andevery day will now add
to the number of forces which the enemy can bring against
us. This consideration alone should lead the generals to
hasten ou as much as possible the commencement of the
affair. If by the middle of September the army shall have
embarked from Varna, the siege will probably be concluded
by the end of November ; at least, that will be sufficient,
even in the opinion of the most methodical engineers'
This, however, is on the supposition that no diversion is
made by an army from without to raise the siege. —Times
Correspondent.

PORT NATAL.
THE last accounts from Natal are of the 21st of
June, and present an exceedingly favourable picture
of the progress of that colony. An extraordinary
degree of activity was exhibited in the trade with the
interior. Trains of waggons, laden with wool, butter,
ivory, and other products, were daily making their
appearance—each taking back merchandise and pro-
visions from the warehouses and stores. Good
roads, available throughout the year, and the opening
of the nearer route to the New Free State, were alone
wanting to secure to the Port of Natal the monopoly
of a vast interior commerce.
Beautiful samples of coffee have been grown near
the Umblanga. The berries are as large, clean, and
full as any imported. The plants are from Bourbon
seed, sown not quite three years ago. This is the
first year of bearing, and yet so heavy has been the
crop that several of the branches were borne down-
wards with the weight. The coffee plant, it is now
placed beyond doubt, grows vigorously and bears well
in the district, and its rapidly-increasing cultivation
will, before long, tell on the market.
The field of mineral wealth opening up in
Namaqualand appears to be immense, and seems
likely to surpass anything else in the world. In
that portion of the colony there are copper-mines of
almost unparalleled richness. The ores produce on
the average from forty to forty-five per cent. of
copper, and in some cases as high a per centage as
seventy-five per cent. has been obtained. The ore
appears to be obtained with the greatest ease, the
mines in most instances having been hitherto
worked as open quarries, and one miner and two
assistants are able to extract and prepare for ship
ment about one ton per day. The proprietors of
the principal mines have addressed the Colonial
Government with a view of obtaining such an exten-
sion of their leases as will make it worth their while
to construct roads for the conveyance of the ore to
the place of shipment. To this application the
Government does not appear di-posed to listen,
arguing that as the ore can be delivered in England
at 131. per ton under the existing disadvantages,
while its gross value may be computed at 301. to
401. per ton, the claim for better conditions than
those existing is not sufficiently strong. The answer
of the Governor, however, hints that the Colonial
Legislature may not feel indisposed to guarantee a
fixed rate of interest upon the capital employed in
making a railroad to serve the mineral districts,
and it is very probable that the suggestion will be
adopted.

THE full deduction of 14d. in the pound has been
rigidly made by the Bank of England for income
tax from the last half-yearly dividends, although the
augmented rate had only been in force for three
months (namely, from the sth of April), while the
railway companies have deducted only the fair sum
of 100., being at the rate of 7d. to the sth of April,
and 14d. to the sth of July. The anomaly, however,
appears to have been directly authorised by the
Government, and, like the remarkable operation of
the new Stamp Act, which has called forth the un-
successful expostulations of the mercantile commu-
nity, must be presumed to have been intended.
Ultimately it will make no difference in the relative
value of the funds and railway shares, since the
augmented payment which has earliest taken place
in the one instance will be made up at a later period
in the other; but many individual and temporary
interests may meanwhile be affected by it, and the
absence of a uniform principle in matters of this
sort must, without explanation, seem unbusiness-

like.
THE FIRST STONE OF ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH,
Newport, Isle of Wight, was laid on Thursday, the
31st inst., by his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
assisted by the Bishop of Winchester and T. W.
Fleming, Esq., of Stoneham-park, Grand Master of
the Provincial Lodge of Freemasons in the Isle of
Wight. The day was most propitious, and the whole
proceedings gave great satisfaction to a very nume-
rous •:,oncourse of spectators. After the ceremony,
about 180 gentlemen partook of the mayor's hospi-
tality at the Town-hall. At the luncheon the Bursar
of Queen's College, Oxford, announced, amidst loud
cheers, that Newport would henceforth be a parish
of itself, independent of Carisbrooke.

SATURDAY,

Foreign and &lonia! 3nttiligucce.

FRANCE.
The Emperor Napoleon has remained all the week
at the camp near Boulogne, where he has passed his
time in military exercises and reviews, and in enter-
taining his royal visitors, the King of the Belgians,
the young King of Portugal, and Prince Albert. The
Empress remains at Biarritz. The Belgian journals
state that the Emperor of the French will return
King Leopold's visit during the stay which the latter
will make at Courtray on the 11th and 12th of the
present month.
The King of Portugal has arrived in Paris from
Boulogne.
General Bodisco, the late Russian commandant of
the fortress of Bomarsund, arrived at Havre on Wed-
nesday with his family.
One hundred surgeons have just been sent to the
army in the East.
The French Minister of Finance has issued a de-
cree giving the subscribers to the late loan of
10,000,000 i. sterling the option of paying in advance
the whole of the instalments yet remaining to be li-
quidated, at an allowance of tour per cent. per annum
discount. This decree is interpreted as affording
evidence that the expenses of the war are telling sen-
sibly upon the resources of the French Treasury.

GERMANY.
The Russian replies to the notes of Austria and
Prussia have been delivered almost simultaneously,
—in Vienna by Prince Gortschakoff, and in Berlin,
or rather at Putbus, where the King of Prussia was
residing, by General Bickerdorff. Both replies con-
vey an " absolute refusal" to negotiate upon the terms
lately offered by the Western powers. The answer
to Austria is stated to have been accompanied by a
reiteration of the Czar's resolve to sacrifice his last
soldier and his last rouble rather than accept such
propositions. In consequence of this message a Ca-
binet Council was held in Vienna on Wednesday last,
at which the Empercr Francis Joseph presided. It
was then decided that the rejection of the guarantees
required by the Western powers, through Austria,
does not amount to a cases belti. Austria, however,
will persevere in supporting the said guarantees, as
necessary for the restoration of peace, and for the
maintenance of the balance of power ; and in the
meantime she will await the result of the operations
undertaken by the allied powers against Sebastopol.
Austria, for the present, is satised with having
maintained a strict neutrality.
Respecting the course of Prussia there is no infor-
mation. A letter from Berlin in the Constitutionna
states that the Emperor of Russia invites the King of
Prussia to offer his mediation with a view to negotia-
tions for peace on the basis of the propositions of the
Western powers, according to his interpretation and
modification of them.
The Wanderer of Vienna asserts that Prince
Gortschakoff, the Russian Ambassador, has just re •
newed the lease of his house in that city for the
whole of the winter.
Archduke Albrecht, commander of the third army
corps, is recovering from an attack of cholera.
The sum subscribed towards the national loan, up
to Wednesday last, is 49:2,101,000.
The British Ambassador at the Court of Vienna,
Lord Westmoreland, gave a dinner on the Ist inst.
in honour of the French General Letang, to which a
great number of diplomatic and military notables were
invited.
The Countess of Westmoreland, accompanied by
Lady Rose Fane, arrived in Vienna on the 29th ult.
from England.
Prince Metternioh returns to Vienna on the 20th
inst. from Konigswart. The Prince continues in the
best health.
The new Turkish Ambassador in Prussia, Kilinal
Effendi, arrived in Berlin on the Ist.
A letter from Bavaria states that a pamphlet has
issued from the pen of Prince Wallenstein, urging
the German pow. rs to form a league against the
encroachments of Russia.
BELGIUM.
The Indipendance says, respecting the alleged
withdrawal of the Ministerial resignations :
"A Brussels journal announced yesterday (2nd) that
M. Brouckere and his colleagues were likely to withdraw
the resignations which they have addressed to the King.
This news is premature. No resolution on any part or of
any kind will be taken before the King's return. '

SPAIN.
Affairs in Spain appear to becoming more settled,
and the capital is now tranquil, although some dis-
turbances followed the departure of Queen Christina.
That event took place on the 28th ult., when the Queen,
and her husband, the Duke of Rianzares, left the
palace at a little before eight in the morning, escorted
by Brigadier Garrigo and a squadron of Farnesio
cavalry, and took the road towards Estremadura and
Portugal. The hour fixed for leaving was six a.m.,
and the delay in the preparations for departure had
nearly prevented it altogether. Groups were collected