The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-22 00:00:00

THE FLEETS.

Rear-Admiral Berkeley is awaiting the arrival at
Portsmouth of the Portland, 50, from the Pacific,
and the Centaur steam-frigate from Rio, both which
ships will be ordered to the Baltic immediately.
The preparations at Woolwich for the launch of
the Royal Albert, 131, screw steam-ship, on the 13th
of May next, in the presence of the Queen and the
Royal Family, are progressing fast.
The Cossack, one of the screws built for the
Russians, was launched on Saturday from Mr. Pit-
cher's yard at Northlieet. She is to be drafted into
the Royal Navy.
The Banshee passed through the Dardanelles,
without stopping, on the night of the sth, on her
way to the combined fleets in the Black Sea, carry-
ing with her the declaration of war. The tieet is
said to be in capital condition. The men are well
and in good spirits ; practising with shot and shell
goes on continually, terrifying the Pacha of Varna
with the belief that the Russians are at hand.
At the latest date the fleet was still lying at anchor
between Baltchin and Kavarna. Three steamers
had been detached, and had proceeded to the Sulina
mouth of the Danube.
A letter from Baltchik, 4th, published in the
Patrie, says that the combined squadrons remained
at their anchorage. They were keeping a sharp
look-out on the coast as far as Odessa, and the com-
munications of the Russians by sea were completely
cut off. This circumstance had a very sensible effect
in paralysing the operations of the Russian generals,
who, previous to the arrival of the allied fleets, had
continued to receive supplies by the coasters of the
Crimea. Now the invading army is compelled to
draw all its provisions from Bessarabia, in the midst
of enormous di c. etudes.
Every arrival from the Black Sea fleet disproves
the assertions of the invidious detractors of our
gallant admirals in that quarter. It is not their
fault that the Russian fleet was not destroyed last
year; the delay is justly to be attributed to the
absence of orders, and even now itis well understood
that the removal of the fleet from Beicos to Varna
took place before the declaration of war. The news
that the Russians had crossed the Danube deter-
minied the admirals to proceed as near to the seat
of war as they could take their ships.—Herald.
Nothing definite has been heard respecting the
movements of Admiral Napier and his Baltic fleet.
The ships had left Kioge Bay, bound it was believed
for Gothland. A squadron was seen passing the
Isle of Bornholm on the 15th, and a heavy canonade
is said to have been heard there during the srcceed-
ing night. This, however, may only have arisen
from the night practice at the guns, which the admi-
ral has ordered to be pursued very diligently on all
fitting occasions. Many prizes have been taken,
chiefly by Admiral Plnmridge's advanced squadron,
and consisting of small Russian merchantmen laden
with salt, oats, fruit, &c. Ten in all have been cap-
tured and their crews made prisoners.
The report that the Amphion had got aground is
contradicted. The Alban, a smaller steamer (Com-
mander Allen), touched the ground, but was got off
without danger, and afterwards piloted five French
ships through the Belt to Copenhagen.
The Austerlitz French steam-ship has rejoined
Admiral Napier.
Letters from officers in the Baltic fleet complain
bitterly of the want of a commissariat. Exchange
at Copenhagen on bills is ruinously high, stock of all
kinds extravagantly dear. The officers are much in
want of money, but are loth to cash their bills at
such a loss. It is astonishing, and discreditable to
the authorities, that no Admiralty commissariat has
been organised.

THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS OF BIBERICH, in the Grand
Duchy of Nassau, on visiting a steamer which was de-
scending the Rhine some days ago, were surprised to find
not fewer than twenty-one young girls, aged from fourteen
to seventeen, accompanied by three men. They gave in-
formation to the director of police, and inquiries were
made, from which it appeared that the men were taking
the girls out to New York, to place them in houses of
prostitution. The girls had been recruited in the rural
districts near Wiesbaden, Krcisnach, Uringen, and Weil-
bourg, and some of them had left unknown to their parents.
Orders were given to arrest the men, but only two of them
could be taken, the other having ran away. The girls were
ordered to be sent back to their homes.
THE EFFECTIVE LIST OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR stood
on the let of October, 1853, as follows :-65 grand crosses,
of whom 46 received pay and 19 not ; 228 grand officers,
125 paid and 103 unpaid ; 1,034 commanders, 457 paid and
577 unpaid; 4,714 officers, 1,490 paid and 3,224 unpaid;
48,0k5 chevaliers, 16,821 paid and 31,264 unpaid—making
in all 04,140 members,

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