The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-25 00:00:00

THE BALTIC FLEET.

KIEL, APRIL 20.
The arrival of the Baltic fleet in our quiet port,
though not possessing the charm of novelty—u Ad-
miral Napier paid us two visits last year—has sud-
denly changed the dull monotonous physiognomy of
our little town into the bustle, life, and excitement of
a sea port of the first class. The ships have anchored
in the same relative positions in which the arrived.
Nearest the town lie the Nile, 91, with the flag of the
commander-in-chief', and the three-decker Royal
George, behind which float the line-of-battle ships
Rxmouth, with the flag of Rear-Admiral Seymour
(the second in command), Caesar, Cressy, Colinas,
Imes Watt, and Majestic, together with the steam
block ships Blenheim, Edinburgh, Hogue, and Ajar,
and the paddle-wheel steamers Vulture, Bulldog, and
Merlin. The latter beautiful little craft is doing duty
as the pioneer of the fleet, and is commanded by I
full captain of great experience (Captain B. Saliva,
last year in command of the Lightning up the
Baltic), to which in the ordinary way she would not
be entitled, but only to a lieutenant, or at the utmost s
commander.
Last evening a few favoured officers and men
obtained leave of absence to come on shore for twelve
hours, but to-day the town literally swarms with
sailors and marines.
It is impossible to state at present how long the
fleet will remain here, as it of course mainly depends
on the state of the ice up the Baltic, and more espo-
cially in the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia. How-
ever, they are likely to stay at least a week or ten
days. Some of the ships—the Caesar, for instasos--
have given officers leave to go over to Hamburg.
The bumboats received permission to-day to gs off to
the ships for an hour, and from fifty to sixty availed
themselves of this permission, and sold their prori:
*ions, eggs, butter, vegetables, as well as the mom
variety of books, pictures, knives, ear-rings, and such
like useless trash for Jack's superfluous sixpences and
shillings.
Admirals Dundee and Seymour paid a visit to-day
to the Governor of KieL The former will go to
board the Bulldog this evening, to start to-morrow
morning at daybreak for Copenhagen, on palladia
melee. At least such is generally expected on
board that vessel by the officers, none of whom have
received permission to go on shore.
In order to distinguish better the ships lad
the immediate command of Admiral Boucles from
1 the second division (Rear-Admiral Seymour), Ow
Commander-in-Chief has hoisted the white flag, to
which he is properly not yet entitled, being mil a
Rear-Admiral of the Blue. However,
i as he stands
at the top of his list, and the next admral above bile
that dies will make him a Rear-Admiral of the White;
it blither all only anticipating the natural come Ot
events ; whilst there cannot be a question as to to!
expediency of the measure, which will prevent by ss!
bye much confusion and oodhly accidents from um
properly answering signals.
To-day there was still a good deal of ice mum ficat'_
about out at ass, from the lookout towel'
The visit of the British fleet is a forbad for tbs

inhabitants of Kiel, and the prices of fresh meat and
other provisions are already considerably enhanced,
whilst eggs are literally sot to be had an the town,
and milk and butter are selling for almost fabulous
pion.
Shortly after the arrival of the British fleet, the
finish war steamers Heck and Holger Dante
same in sad anchored in the inner harbour. Captain
Raffeaberg, of the Holger Dana°, immediately
rowed off to the Nils, to welcome Admiral Dundee
in the Danish water,. The Heels is come here to
fetch some of the troops ordered to reinforce the gar-
rison of Copenhagen. The Holger Danske is ordered
to remain hers as gnard-ehip as long aa the British
feet stays in this port.
The demolition of the sea fort of Frederiksort, at
the entrance of our bay, which was ordered to take
pleas this spring, is now countermanded, and, in the
uncertain state of Danish politics, it it considered
even desirable to mount on the ramparts a few more
guns of heavy calibre, which will be sent forthwith
from the arsenal at Copenhagen.

THE FIRST BALTIC CAPTURE or 1835.—MENEL,
APRIL 19.—The Myron, Kenowich, from Lubeck,
with a cargo of coals, was captured off Libau, April
17, by her Majesty's steamer Desperate, and has
been brought to this port.

ART-UNION OF LONDON. - DRAWING OF

THE PRIZES.

The meeting of this institution took place yester-
day, is the Haymarket Theatre, the house being kindly
lest foe the purpose by the lessee, Mr. Backetoae. Lord
Masten!' bad promised to take the chair, but as his lord-
'kip, for some reason naexplained, did net make his ap-
pearance, Mr. H. T. Horn, M.P., was requested to act on
the oeeation, and performed the duties most efficiently.
The souse's report observed that last year the sub-
'Bribers numbered considerably more than 14,000, end that
td» society has in head a reserve sum of 7,0001. A state-
ment was made of the manner in which the sum to be
upended in prizes had been divided ; and a detailed ao-
cunt was given of the various works of art—such as butte,
prints, statuettes, medallions, Ito., which the council had
'Bleated either for prises or distribution to the subscribers.
It was stated that the council, having taken into eonslden-
dos the fact that a great number of persons had subecribed
daring several years without receiving a prize, they had this
year set apart a valuable bast for every unsuccessful sub-
scriber of tea years' standing.
It appears that the 'umber of the soc:ety's agents has
greatly increased of late in very distant lands, and that
through their exertions a knowledge and taste for the arts
I penetrating into localities hitherto strangers to
auk harmonising influences ; earl, moreover, that
the list of subscribers has been greatly enlarged by contribu-
Mre from abroad, Boston, in the United States, and Hobart ,
Town having furnished between two and three huadred
eabecribers each. The widely spreading love for art was
dwelt upon, and properly, se a subject for general gratuity
Lion, and it was stated, in proof of this extension of taste,
that at Ohio a society formed for the purpose of distributing
yaks of art had lately numbered upwards of 27,000 suit-
scribers.

After the reading of the report, which, it must be said,
wenn instructive, and exceedingly well drawn up, votes
Of thanks were unanimously paned to the council, and to
the hon. secretaries, Mean. Godwin and Pocock.
In neuraing thanks, Mr. Godwin took occasion to re-
mark upon the energy and unanimity which had charac-
terised the various councils of the Art-Union ever since the
establishment of the institution.
Warmly expressed thanks wen oleo given to Mr. Back-
stage, for hie having so liberally plead the theatre at the
disposal of the council.
Mr. Hope then oommented ably upon " the report," and
happily remarked that it was a most gratifying sign of the
times that, although we were plunged in a sanguinary war,
and that so much money was wrung from the community
fora very different purpose than that of fostering the
peaceful arts, still the Art-Union not only maintained its
position, but positively progressed, its subscribers actually
numbering, during this year of strife, 6G) more than on any
former occasion. Mr. Hope also congratulated the
council upon their wisely and humanely recommending
that a more ready admission to public hulloing' b,
given to the bulk of the people, and laid great stress upon
that portion of the council's recommendation which n•
!erred more particularly to the Royal Academy, remarking
that although it was perhaps a somewhat delicate subject to
touch upon, it must not be forgotten that the Royal Aca-
demy enjoyed great privileges at the hands or the nation,
being housed most handsomely at the public expiate, and
deriving its annual income no len from the exertions of
other than from those of its own memben; which privi-
leges and advantages he thought should inspire the mem-
bers of the Royal Academy with o more liberal belies to.
wards the public than they had hitherto evinced.
After the Chairman had concluded his business-like and
very sensible address, the drawing of the pries took place.
Boma of the larger prises fell to foreign leads, a con-
tributor from New Zealand carrying oft a 1501. and a eon.
Senator from Boston (America) a 2001. picture.
Through the liberality of the members of the National
Imitation of Fine Arts, the pictures purchased with the
money pr.an obtained yesterday will be exhibited at the
Portland Gallery, Regent-street.
THE PRIZE LIST.

The &Mewls. is. the surge of She successful drawers,
with She wise of *ear prime :
istleol *NOM • Wort of Art of Ur Use of Two Bandrod odd
Mlle/ re sliest Isurto► 4 Art U.S.i Tales of Two Handfed
M. liew1:01.
a Daaoay
liewlirtta Work of A 18,1144 the Tatar of Ovr Mandrel
alt le arks; a Wish of Art dew TOM of Ow Harked
lIMIO. Wailmer, laloweis o; W. W. Gels& Pi ortheirod ,
I "h
ew. DerehrsoM ; MIL*" beset.._....; T. Ilweeolee.
Iledllid oda le sleet a Work of Art of De TON of Ilielelpale
Drese&—W. DAM Ifirewledar ; J. as**, Nomoiromo it ; W.
..,.g J. D. Oahhorr. Wllloball W.
Madame Ds W.
loCrarte= ; Mor. Mare. Ithrelowein ; 0. W. Mawr. sew
wear ; J. IL Olsen& Iflghlwary.
Zetitiol mit le lima a Work of Art 4 lhe Table' Masi Polak
—J. T. Allea.Calahll; S. Yee% AdiaIiDOWIWO4.I:I72
u...w..a.....0.1 11.1 taller, Oohs ; Ds& W. rued,
IL W. &lewd, Illsloolww; Jle. M., 11111ftles ; J• la
Philedigint; .1. law& Old Des IW. WWIIO. I
T. IL Kerwello Walla; J. Mem JIM V&A, ; It. Owthwarie,
Mao* ;J. Meld. IMAM ;Jo bbd. Seep,; J. Walla& 10,
IlicissaLrel ae; W. IL Terms. WanoliL
sh or Niet Welt el Art etas Vales of Fifty Poondo.—
J. Clowassmos. MOM; Drs of CMOs ; K. Claims, Wandsworth ;
Jells ham Ilarerlordee ; J. S. Iftwerald, Porikad ; J. C. Vasa
Wes remOrlowl • IL lanagwertb. Wawa • TAIWAN'''. LW-
serer ; Jahn Nig titer; ii.Toduiris. WerpOol ; J. L TWO%
hillwolo; T. IL O. O. Ms.
Ilasttiod alt le aloft a Work ef Art of Ur Tahoe al
Peeods.-0. IL AMA. ; 5. J. hats%
fed; W. rata.., i.i .II; Orinsi iownee. Owds
.rat; 0. EfOlif. 1 W. lised. PearesWille ; 1. IL Cart.
lisw Liao ; K. 041101. Doetheselmelowhetaeit ; T. D. Doses,
, Si'. S. Ilwr Leberi I. War. Pasoan;
c. =...iuddhi ; Jae. Oresowlit ;W. bens. Oki.
wOrnla4l:=B.lltilserol ;J. fliwww. Ordrinoonth ;J. 0.
: W. MDR& Deellsllas ; W. leliolloo,
Twoodow-tarraso ; A. Mlabolas.Delertliews ; Jas. Orr. Liverpool
L.
T. W. ta.kor, Honore= ; 0. W. WoAliAiowt Tows ; Kw. J. L.
IoWIL 1Mov; C. IL View W ; T. Way, Polokry;
W. Wirel. seil; Mrs. N. Wolkoff, ; W. Wairesio. Leek;
Wlldessa.lAwspeaL
Jelled web le Most a Wort of Art of the Take of Twaoty.tre
Perred&—J. *Ma k 'Marla ; I. Maori, Moe ; J. lloardworo,
Dooleird ; 8. IL Me*. Iliewd; 0. Saw. ales..; J. Lim, Orate.
laraelWero ; J. 31. DeolldwAdedde ; O. Jr. hers, Jamie" ; J.
add& Old kooLoni alr,copiso, by Boliglowaroot ; Qt.
;5
NV;
O. Moms wroeseo ;5.3. T. Cowen; 11. Added. ;
J. Illealddedh ; N. Talift Si ; K. W. Mastas.
; J. 1.. llower. Powowillo ; Woo. Sam% LW=
Loser; T. InfaL Malls ; IL
brd ;11Trillarlfework; A. Y. MarkohassMilisweVrtie Art
Deis; T. IL . DOM ;IL waist
l'1;
riearg.". N. A."l".les&Signial i 1.
es* to mew a Wars 01 Art of the Tales ef Meaty
Ihms&—o. age. Meme.hlO; M. 0. Vaud. Illiworl; C. or
Was. Shaft; Lanelioddlendolt• Ms& Oislog. Dial
Yes. De Lama, Oalodlemee; his Odom Ilko.
am% lasodoo4;_1. 011velloOT_Olo; T• D. DeleDla.
lbelleNolos; J. M. YoloWoWao; T. V. WV. fie Mill ;
I•=we. deeldwaltere; J. Mtn; D. D. DolltoN Doi'.
• ILA. Jairea.lkarkmrdr; Ows.— LawrieA_ Bna, M.
N ilasswor.terseee;asissiDerowi lish.lawepeol , 1...•
witerw=
...6.4 tidbits
111Wer•Oseleal ; 1. Termsew.agliimaer Auldoed ;
W
giasiodt, fligiorl
ere..; drs T 1111•4 Medaimer
Ming;
True D liwirs W m IL WI%
litenikellll le WOW a Work of Art al theTein al Moo Poo&
Mseltrlirl==avarpol; J. Dawes& A. Daly
wig
;et= lkslamlad. 2=2.. row.
aesti
g. derLONII.OIB4B9; W.T. trop..
iscessad
Illoradeleol jlabeellLeOperoblil; -: Menerwad. at ;
Dr. J. Nal& O. M. Oaeous, OM :.wad; W. L
41=1, mordik ; maw
jlissig. a; I. II elk kartltismi.
Ye ;
J. Trebanw, ; I.
mita whet a W el Mid Il• WI iggirk.-
11. Alfaiiiiii"lllllouish ; Um& leolialb. naiads; LW. Boothrgh
lootos.V.L ; B. IL Carver, IDE. 11. CeeszlisiMl
M.lfarkloillews . Cane
r,
; D.
aeon; W. M Desk ; Lanareiss—
llamo. erolowhimpOw Ys lop. Ik=issT. A. ,
liessaleme.enhilissd. Urals.; •
edgers • ; Z. Oldry, POdwelld J.
Mese. karithisaff; O. POWs" elmeellt; J. flail, Umbra.
Weed 0.Ilhaneol& landird ; M. etelnimil. Dotes; I. Z. Dep.
MI. blot; all. Wei. Tleloria; His. Wylers, Molleinw.

THE ARMY BEFORE

MR. ROBBUCK'd COMMITTEE.
Yesterday the committee room was again crowded to
►ear the costumed evidence of the Doke of Newcastle, upon
the administration of the duties of the War Department.
Mr. Layard opened by asking his gran whether he found
say difficulty, with regard to the forms, la trans...tins the
duties that devolved upon ►im as Bunter, at War.
The duke repel—Yes, undoubtedly, c visiderable difil.
catty in some of the subordinate departments at home, and
great difficulty in connexion with penons on the spot, or
abroad. This answer applied to the whole period of his
holding office; and the same system prevailed throughout,
sad applied equally before as after the separation of the two
secret !ryshipe of state.

Mimic your holding office was any change made in this
state of things either by minute or positive order I—l did
supersede these forms in numerous instances, and I gave the
oommittes instances yesterday in tie case of the medical
' department, which was one of the worst cues, and in wLich
the head of the medical board, to obtain medical comforts
and: applies, was obliged to go through a large circuit of
forma and alias before he could obtain them. I directed
this to be supsneded, and I hays no doubt it was, bet it
was merely a personal exercise of authority on my part.
To the best of my knowledge these forms still exist. I have
no knowledge of any alteration having ban made, but I
cannot answer positively aftAt the time of my retirement
from caw.

Did your grace make say minutes or reports upon the
matter t—No. The real fact of the matter was that the
business of the office was so onerous that It was perfectly in-
possible to do so during the time that I held office, and I
have no reason to suppose that the duties of that office have
become lighter since, so that it was quite impossible to give
continuous attention to those great alterations and improve-
sesta which, feeling as I did the inoonvenlanos, would
I have been very satisfactory to myself. I was consequently
obliged to go on as I bat could in the face of this incon-
venience, superseding these forms in greater and more im-
portant instances by personal authority, rather than drawing
out a comprehensive scheme, which of coarse would have
met with considerable opposition in various quarters, sad a
specific attention to which would have superseded the appli-
cation I found it necessary to bestow en the g e I business
of my aloe. These forms were chiefly applicable to the
subordinate departments, but some of them—for instance,
in the case of the ordnance—applied to the higher depart-
ment'.

What were your chief difficulties with referent)* to the
ordnance department. It has been stated to me by several
correspondents that they submitted various military loves-
noes to you to be approved of, and that you recommended
or referred them to the Ordnance, and that there were so
many forms to be gone through in the shape of certification,
die., en reaching head•quarters, that the War-office was as
many months as they should have been days in considering
the applications. Does that correspond with what you know
upon the subject 2—Though I admit that hilly, it did not ex-
actly &Tante= forms, properly so speaking. I admit that the
public' were ander a telecom:option aa to what office they
ought to apply to. They frequently applied to the War-
office, and other military departments ; but that misconcep-
tion, or mistake, could not properly be debited to any diffi-
culties or inconveniences arising from foveae. As regards all
these inventions, of course the circumstances of the war
stimalated public ingenuity to an enormous extent—inge-
nuity, prairical, theoretical, manufacturing, mecha-
nical, and suggestive—and the multiplicity of I.
cautions which were laid ketone myself al: as were beyond
perhaps what would be credited by any m.mber of this
committee, so that it became extremely difficult in many
instances to know at first sight what should be rejected and
what should be Investigated. As far as possible, I refined
all these applications to practical men. The custom of the
Ordnance fur a long time in case of all inventions has been
to refer them to a committee at Woolwich. That committee
undoubtedly has not given satisfaction to the public, and
which the high character of the officers composing it, if taken
alone, fairly entitled it to. I think the composition of that
committee was faulty. It was solely composed of military
sawn, and did not embrace chemists and others to the
aweat I think it should have done, sad I addressed a long
War to the Ordnance on this subject, in which I suggested
ffiee establishment of a committee cia a different system, and I
Yap la is satisfactorily at work at this moment, though I
mast weak to it positively. I suggested the change before
IWA Saw This letter, with others, Si not in my posses-
sion ; but the lamminee can have them from the W►r-office.
Are you, within the period of your office, aware whether
any invention calculated to be weal to the public war veep
much delayed by the process of form and routine it had W
undergo at the Ordnance 2—Yes, and necessarily so. I bass
already said that the number of inventions was enormous,
and as the committee was formed of oaken who had other
duties to perform, no blame attached to them ; and se they
won Incapable of keeping dewn the accumulation of
work, I increased the committee. I recommended that it
should he formed into sub-committees, according to the
character and alma of the inventoins, and to enable them the
better to meet the difficulties. But I have no doubt that
many inventions were not investigated nearly so soon ad it
war desirable they should he for the sake of the public
Interest.