The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

when in command of the Thames and Earyaius frigates, in
the fleet of Lord Exmouth, and even in that fleet, officered
as it was by some of the greatest naval heroes of the age,
there was no officer, without exception, who had morellen-
tirely the confidence of Lord Exmouth, or was more gene-
rally remarked for his distinguished gallantry, than my
honourable friend. (Cheers.) My friend was distin-
guished for his remarkable daring and bravery ; but even
then be verified the phrase of the noble lord. He looked
several moves before him; and in my judgment he is not
only a gallant but I look upon him as a most discreet
commander. ((.'heers.) He possesses my entire confi-
dence, and I rejoice in having had the opportunity on this
great occasion to commend him to the choice of my
Sovereign. He does int go forth under the hypocritical
pretence of conducting a religious war--( loud and vehement
cheering)—but he goes forth to assert the independence of
Europe—to resist, and I hope successfully to resist, that
lawless spirit of aggression and aggrandisement which now
threatens to disturb the general peace. My gallant friend
says that when he gets into the Baltic he will declare wax.
1, as First Lord of the Admiralty, give him my free con-
sent to do so. (Loud cheers.) I hope that war will be
short. It may be sharp, but I trust that with the spirit
and energy that has ever guided my gallant friend it will
be decisive. I hope that the time is not distant when you
will invite me here again, to celebrate the triumphant
return of my gallant friend. This evening has been begun
under happy auspices ; our next meeting, I hope, will be
to celebrate a brilliant success. (Loud cheers. )"
Various toasts followed, including among others
the "Turkish Minister," the "Turkish Army and
Navy," "Admirals Hamelin and Dundas, and success
to the combined fleets." The company did not
separate until a late hour.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

THE ARMY.

THE safe arrival of the first detachments of British
troops, after a rapid and prosperous voyage, is
announced by telegraphic despatches from Malta.
The Orinoco, with the Coldstreams, arrived at the
island last Saturday morning, the 4th inst.; the
Ripon, with the Grenadiers, in the afternoon of the
same day ; and the Niagara, with the 28th Regiment,
on Sunday.
The 4th Regiment (King's Own) left Edinburgh
Castle on Wednesday, and embarked from Granton-
pier on board the Golden Fleece, screw-steamer
(2,500 tons), lying in Leith Roads. The regiment
goes out to Malta under the command of Lieute-
nant• Colonel Sadleir, the commanding officer, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Trevor, being detained by indis-
position. Its strength, as embarked, is 37 officers,
47 sergeants, 16 drummers, and 850 rank and file.
Two ladies and 30 women accompany the regiment.
The Duke of Cambridge, Lord Raglan, Sir George
Brown, and some other generals, were expected to
arrive at Paris this day (11th), but there are some
doubts whether they will arrive before the 21st. The
Duke of Cambridge will occupy the apartments in
the Pavillon Marsan of the Palace of the Tuileries,
lately occupied by the Duke of Saxe Coburg during
his visit to the Emperor.
The Earl of Cardigan is to have a cavalry command
in the expeditionary army.
Prince Albert on Thursday inspected the Royal
Artillery under orders for the East on Woolwich
Common, when an immense number of persons were
present to witness the imposing sight. The hour
named for the troops assembling was a quarter past
ten o'clock, but at an earlier period his Royal High-
ness arrived on the ground, with the Duke of Cam-
bridge, Lord Raglan, and the principal officers of
the staff. The royal personages having gone through
the various lines and inspected each company, the
whole force passed in open review order. The Prince
expressed his satisfaction to the officers in command
at the soldierly appearance of the men, and the acti-
vity and readiness shown in their various evolutions.
Active measures are being adopted at the Tower
to complete the 19th Regiment for service in the
East. A large number of men have volunteered from
the depot companies of other regiments, and, having
undergone a most minute inspection, were incorpo-
rated with the 19th. On Wednesday evening the
regiment mustered 963 strong, leaving a deficiency of
only 37 bayonets to complete the war establishment.
When the regiment arrived three weeks since in the
Tower it was not quite 550 strong, so that nearly 450
men have been raised during that short time. It is
believed that this corps will march on Tuesday for
Southampton, to be in readiness to embark.
Orders have been issued for the instant return of
several regiments, and of a large portion of artillery,
now in our colonies.
All the assistant-surgeons of the cavalry regiments
at home are to be immediately placed under orders
for foreign service, for the purpose of being employed
in the East with the British contingent. This plan
is adopted in preference to that of engaging civilians
for extra work. The field hospital, with tents, field
panniers, and other appurtenances, has been sent
out to Constantinople to await the arrival of our
troops, when a certain proportion of tents and other
requisites will be distributed to each battalion.

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Theisle of Wight is to be made the bead-quarters
of all the regiments sent to the war in the East.
Thirty thousand militia will be encamped early in
May on the open downs in the neighbourhood of the
Royal Military College of Sandhurst. The chief
objet in view is to drill this body of men into
effective soldiers, and to give a large number of
them an opportunity of voluntering into the line as
occasion may require.
The Admiralty has given notice at Lloyd's that
eight more ships will be required for conveying
cavalry and troops to Malta. They will be en-
gaged for four months certain.
It is said that Government has made arrange-
ments with that of Portugal for relieving our regi-

ments in the lonian Isles, and partially even at
Gibraltar and Malta, in order that Lord Raglan's
force may be rendered as effective as possible.
Prince Albert, as colonel of the regiment of
Grenadier Guards, has suggested that the blue
cloak should be set aside, and a great-coat, the same
colour as that of the men, worn in its stead. The

reason is, that the officers at the head of their
regiments, in the blue cloak, would be marks for the
enemy's rifles. The new coat, designed and ap-
proved by his Royal Highness, has immense ad-
vantages over the cloak. It may be worn without
using the sleeves, the latter being so placed that
the arms may be put through or withdrawn with.
out assistance even on horseback. The pockets
are large, sufficient in an encampment to contain
linen, and the requisites for the toilet. The skirts
may be withdrawn from the front, so as not to
impede the free use of the legs on the march.
The shoulders and arms are also protected by a
large cape.
THE FLEET.

The departure of the splendid fleet lately mus-
tered at Spithead for the Baltic is appointed for
noon to-day (Saturday). Sir C. Napier, the Com-
mander-in-Chief, will then take his final leave of
the shore. The Queen will review the fleet before
sailing, having travelled yesterday to Osborne for
that purpose. Her Majesty is to be among the
squadron at an early hour this morning, and will
witness its departure for the Baltic. Sir I. Graham
and other members of the Admiralty Board will
also be present, and vast crowds of intending
spectators have been pouring into Portsmouth
and the neighbourhood for some days, attracted by
a scene whieh to-day is being enacted at Spithead.
The rendezvous of the fleet, it is said, is at present
fixed at a concerted anchorage some distance below
the Cattegat.
The division of the fleet reviewed is a most mag-
nificent one, and consists of twenty-three ships ; of
this number there are—

Sm.uno—Royal George, 121, flag of Rear Admiral
Corry ; Prince Regent, 90, Capt. H. Smith, C. 8.;
Monarch, 84, Capt. Erskine ; Boscawen, 70, Capt.
Glanville.
ScitEws—Duke of Wellington, 181, flag-ship of Sir
C. Napier ; St. George, 121, Capt. Eyres; St. Jean
d'Acre, 101, Capt. Hon. H. Keppei ; Princess Royal,
91, Capt. Lord Paget; Cressy, 80, Capt. Warren;
Blenheim, 80, Capt. Lord F. T. Pelham ; Hogue, 60,
Capt. W. Ramsey ; Edinburgh, 58, flag of Rear-Ad-
miral Chads ; Ajax, 58, Capt. Warden; Imperieuse,
61, Capt. Watson, C.B; Euryalus, 51, Capt. H. Ram-
say; Arrogant, 47, Capt. Yelverton ; Amphion, 34,
Capt. key.
Pm:miss—Leopard, 18, flag of Admiral Plurnridge ;
Odin, 18, Capt. F. Scott; Magicienne, 18, Capt. T.
Fisher; Valorous, 16, Capt. Buckle; .Bulldog, 6,
Capt. W. K. Hall; Gorgon, 8, Com. A. Cumming.
The total force will comprise 1,320 guns, 13,326
men, and the steam squadron of 8,340 horse-power.
The four sailing-vessels, 304 guns ; thirteen screws,
944 guns; and six paddles, 78 guns.
Rear Admiral Corry hoisted his flag, white at the
mizen, on board the three-decker Neptune, 120, on
Wednesday morning in Portsmouth harbour. The
ship will be rigged and ready to leave to-day for the
rendezvous.
The Duke of Wellington went out of Plymouth
harbour at one on Thursday, and left the Sound at
two. Her departure was delayed some time through
the thickness of the fog.
Rear-Admiral Chads has been vigorously exercising
the squadron at gunnery. The target practice is
stated to have been of surpassing exet Renee. The
Amphion men cut the flag-staff in halves twice at
1,000 yards range, and every shot would have sunk a
dingy at the same distance.
The launch of the Royal Albert, 131, screw steam-
ship, building at Woolwich dockyard, is ordered to
be postponed for a fortnight after the 15th of April
next.
The Shields harbour-masters have received instruc-
tions to elea • away berths for two French war-steam-
ers expected in the Tyne immediately. They are
corning down to make arr.: igements for a supply of
steam coal for the war-steamers to be employed in
the Blade fleet.

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