The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-24 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

A horrible tragedy has been perpetrated on Long
Island. The victims were Mr. James Wickham, a
retired merchant, and his wife, who were murdered
on the night of the 2nd inst., at their residence in
Suffolk county, Long Island. The man suspected is
an Irishman, Nicholas Bain, who was discharged
from the deceased gentleman's service a few days
previously. He has been captured.
A memorial was presented to the Senate by the
attorney of the Earl of Selkirk praying for a patent
for lands in Minnesota granted to his ancestors by
Charles 11. It was refused.

THE STATE OF ST. PETERSBURG.
A LETTER in the Elbetfeld Gazette from Dortmund,
dated July 13, states :
"The foreman of a large engine manufactory, who has
lately returned from St. Petersburg, has given me the
following statement :—Everything looks now very gloomy
indeed in St. Petersburg, indoors and out of doors. The
city, once so beautiful and full of life, is no longer to be re-
cognised. The palaces are converted into barracks, bridges
are broken down, the streets covered with tents, for more
than 40,000 Bashkeers are said to have come from the go-
vernments of Orenburg and Perm, from their steppes and
nomad encampments, and to have entered St. Petersburg
for the protection of the city, where they make a hideous
impression. They have still the Tatar weapons of bow and
arrows, lance and billhook. They steal more dextrously
than the crows, and possess all the other Tatar virtues,
theoretically and practically. But the proud and magnifi-
cent guard has gone away, partly to Poland, partly to Fin-
land, and thus, in the total absence of moving life and
daily intercourse, the city looks desolate. On the broad
and gloriona Neva stream, which once daring the clear
summer nights afforded one of the most enchanting sights,
which bore on its dark waters thousands of ships and boats,
a solitary barge filled with bricks is now towed along, or a
steamer runs down laden with soldiers for cronstadt. As
the city is in a state of war, no person is allowed to show
himself in the streets after nine at night—a hard blow now
for these poor northerners, who have for more than half the
rear been forced to keep their stove-warmed rooms. The
higher classes of society are said to be quite out of tune,
for to be always obliged to he making voluntary and in-
voluntary sacrifices without receiving anything in return
is not exactly very edifying. Besides, there seems no end
to the whole business, and not a soul will give a rag on
tick to another any longer. The common people how-
ever, are fanatieised. ' Onr dear papa ('zar knows boat,' is
a proverb, and grim rage do they feel against the foreigners,
whom they insult in the open street, and whom the police
are constantly obliged to warn not to go beyond the gates
of the city, where they could no longer be protected. For
the rest, the foreigners have been obliged to sign a printed
form, by which they were compelled to engage that they
would submit in everything to the laws of the land, and
airier themselves to be tried and judged by them in case of
their case of tranagressing them. Trade is stagnant, all
manufactures are at a stand still, for amongst other causes
there are no coals. What stock these was of them has
been reserved by the authorities for the sole use of the
steamers, though their prices has gone up immensely. For
this reason most of the foreign factory inspectors and work-
men, it-c , are leaving the country. The crowds are so
great, wanting to take places in the coach running daily to
Memel, that if a person does not book his place six weeks
before hand he stands a poor chance of getting away.
Strangers who have money in the bank find great difficulty
in getting it, for the bank pays out to no person whatever
per day more than fifty silver roubles. In this way a poor
Frenchman, who wanted to draw out the hard-earned
savings of many years. namely, 1,500 silver roubles, was
obliged to rim backwards and forwards for more than a
month, having to wait every morning in the crowd till he
could get served before he could get back his own again,
though he lost thereby the place he had booked and paid
for at the coach-office weeks before."

lIIITHIIITEEN of the surviving crew of the Europa
transport arrived in the Thatnes on Wedtieattay, '
by
the Danube screw-steamer which spoke H.M.S.
Tribune on the 13th inst. The official declarations
made at Gibraltar in reference to the catastrophe
have also been received. These documents contain
the evidence given on oath by Lieut. Weir, of the
6th Dragoons, Lieut. Black, the Admiralty agent,
William Gardine, master of the transport, Joseph
Gordon, chief mate, and a private of the 6th, named
Nugent, respecting the fire. Their testimony con•
firms the accounts we have already given
of the melancholy event. Captain Gardiner
bears the amplest testimony to the heroism dig-
played by the lamented Colonel Moore. An official
letter has been aildressed to Lord Raglan from the
Horse Guards, by direction or the Commander-in-
Chief, conveying an expression of deep concern from
Lord Hardinge at the event, and his admiration at
the conduct of deceased officers. Lord Hardinge
states that he will not fail to recommend her Ma-
jesty to order that the promotion consequent on the
death of Lieut. Colonel Moore, should go to the regi-
ment.
- - - -

THE report of the Royal Commission upon promo.
tions in the army will lie laid on the table of both
Houies of Parliatneht in the course of next week. It
is believed that the recommendations cotained in this
report will be received with great satisfaction by the
public and the army.