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

THE PRESS.

document in question has given " satisfaction,"
though it is admitted that it contains no pledge that
Piusgia will take part against Russia when hostilities
commence. The reception given to the official
hearer of the royal missive is described as being of
the most distinguished kind.

A telegraphic despatch, dated Berlin, Friday, says
that—" Yesterday an offensive and defensive alliance
between Austria and Prussia was signed by Baron
Manteuffel on the one side and Baron Hess and
Count Thun on the other."

Vely Pacha, the Turkish Ambassador, has returned
to Paris from Toulon.

The annual ball in favour of the English Charita-
ble Fund took place on Wednesday night, at the
Jardin d'Hiver, and passed off brilliantly. The
attendance was good ; and, though the ball was for
the benefit of the English, a good many French were
present.

The Madrid Bank of St. Ferdinand has reopened
its offices. The Junta of Commerce having published
a declaration, proving that the Bank has assets
sufficient to meet all its obligations, confidence is
reviving.

The price of the new Sardinian loan of 35 millions
of francs, to be raised by subscription, is fixed at 78
for the Five per Cents., and 52 for the Threes.

A CABINET COUNCU, will be held to-day at the
Foreign-office, at two o'clock.
LORD CAmisix arrived at Constantinople on the
sth by the French steamer, and left two days after
for Varna.

FRESH GOLD DISCOVERIES are daily made in the
district of Dolgelly, Merionethshire, where it is
found, says the Chester Chronicle, in as pure a state,
and in deposits apparently as rich, as in either of the
two modern El Dorados.
A RULE Nisi for a new trial in the celebrated
Wagner case was yesterday granted by the Court of
Queen's Bench, on the application of Mr. Lumley.

A NOTICE was sent down to the Bank of England
yesterdy afternoon, inviting tenders for 0,000,000/.
of Exchequer Bonds, to bear interest at the rate of
31 per cent., and redeemable in May, 1858, 1859,
and 1860, by equal amounts of 2,000,0001. No tender
to be for less than 1,0001., and the tenders may be made
in Exchequer Bills at par, or, if money be offered,
1001. Is. will have to be paid for every lOW. bond.
The instalments are to be payable May 8, June 9,
July 11, Sept. 8 next, by 10, 30, 20, and 20 per
cent. respectively, and the remainder on October 17.
The instalments may be paid earlier if desired, and
will bear interest accordingly from the date of pay-
ment. Tenders to be sent to the Bank before May 2.
The highest tenders will be taken. The bonds will
be issued in sums of 1001., 2001., 5001., and 1,0001.
It is not intended to apply to Parliament this session
for any further issue of Exchequer bonds beyond
the six millions. From the above it appears Govern-
ment is resolved to be prepared to meet any demand
for paying off its Exchequer Bills in June, when they
fall due, and may be below par ; but the project must
not be regarded as a new loan, one security being
substituted for another.— Sun, Third Edition.

A CROWDED AND DISORDERLY MEETING ON THE
WAR QUESTION was held in Manchester on Wednes-
day night. The gathering was convened by Mr.
Urquhart, who made a long speech on the occasion,
his declared object being, not to propose a resolu-
tion, but to elicit discussion. Several other speeches
were delivered, and the proceedings lasted from seven
o'clock until nearly midnight, in the midst of noise
and confusion, which the reporters seem to have
found it difficult to describe. Resolutions were
carried declaring that the English people ought to
apply themselves to the comprehension of their ex-
ternal relations, and for establishing a society in
Manchester to spread information, political and
diplomatic. Mr. Bright, who had been invited, did
not attend, but sent a letter stating as the reason for
his absence his conviction that the sole point of
agreement between himself and Mr. Urquhart con-
sisted of their mutual condemnation of the war. This
disapproval, though merely relative in Mr. Urqu-
hart's opinion, is absolute and total on the part of
Mr. Bright. He says:—
" I believe the war to be altogether unnecessary, and
that nothing can be said either for its justice or its expe-
diency. I believe, further, that after having permitted the
country, by a series of blunders, to drift into war, the
Ministers who have chiefly spoken on the subject, with
the exception of Lord Aberdeen, have misrepresented the
facts of the case, and have thereby misled public opinion.
With regard to the professed objects of the war, I believe
them to be impossible of attainment ; and that Russia, in
her wildest dreams of ambition, never imagined so many
calamities to Turkey as have been brought upon that de-
voted country, in a single year, by the friendship which our
Government has professed towards her."

THE WAR.

TIIE ARMIES.

373

The Commander-in-Chief of the British expedition-
ary cavalry, Major-General Lord Lucan, left London
on Thursday for the East. He travelled by the
South-Eastern Railway to Dover, whence he proceeds
through France to Marseilles, where he will embark
for Gallipoli. His lordship had prolonged interviews
on Tuesday and Wednesday with the Secretary for
War, the Duke of Newcastle. He also visited the
general in command of the home troops, Lord Har-
dinge.
Major Colborne, on the staff of his Excellency
General Rowan, left Quebec on March 24, en route
for Constantinople, having received an appointment
as Assistant Adjutant-General at the seat of war.
Brigadiers-General Airey and Buller and staff,
consisting of Lord William Paulet, Colonel Maule,
Colonel Allen, Hon. Mr. Clifford ; Captains Sankey,
Morris, Kelvington, and Hackett; Lieutenants Gard-
ner, Dennie, and (Rough ; Major Mackenzie, Dr.
Forteath ; Assistant Surgeons Langhtun, Cassell, and
Miller ; and Paymaster Pope, left Southampton on
Wednesday afternoon, in the mail-steamer .Ripon,
for Malta, en route to Gallipoli. Thirty-four fine
horses went out in the Ripon, belonging to the field
and staff officers. Amongst the cargo were five tons
of ammunition for the British army in the East, com-
prising 100,000 rifle-musket cartridges and 125,000
percussion-caps. There were also 29 packages of
camp fittings, seven cases of medical stores, some
packages of military clothing, and 50,0001. in specie.
Brigadier Scarlett, in command of the cavalry, has
not yet left Ireland, where he has been actively em-
ployed in obtaining volunteers for active service.
The gallant colonel and Brigadier the Earl of Cardi-
gan are the only officers of the staff now awaiting
orders for departure.
The head quarter division of the 19th Regiment
left the Tower on Thursday morning for embarkation
for the seat of war. The division, numbering 480
rank and file, were paraded in light-service marching
order at eight o'clock in the morning, in the great
square of the fortress, and thence proceeded to Wool-
wich, where they embarked for Gallipoli.
The transport - ship Courier, Captain Rodolph,
sailed from Queenstown on Wednesday for Malta
with the 30th Regiment on board.
The second detachment of the Nth Hussars, for
embarkation for the East, arrived in Plymouth on
Tuesday afternoon, under the command of Major De
Sails. They embarked on board the Mary Anne
troop-ship, and sailed for Turkey on Wednesday.

The following detachments form the force which
is now on its way to the seat of war :

99th Foot Bto
41st Foot
42nd Foot
44th Foot B6O
47th Foot B6O
40th Foot BOO
bOth Foot B6O
nth Foot BlO
77th Foot B5O
79th Foot SAO
88th Foot B6O
98rd Foot B6O
06th Foot B6O
lUfle Brigade

INFANTRY.
Grenadier Guards B5O
Coldstreams
Scotch Fusilier Guards

-
2,350

let or Royale, lit Battalion 850
4th Foot
th Foot. 850
19th Foot B5O
23rd Foot 8450
28th Foot B5O
50th Foot B5O
33rd Foot B5O
138th Foot B5O

CAVJ

Rth Ittowww, two squaclrna. 250
11th Hussar*, two squadrns. 260
12th Light Dragoon■ 250
15th Light Dragoons 250
17th Lancers

ROYAL HI

Two troops
Six companies Artillery 1,440
Royal Frigineers, Sappers
and Miners

Total
IltY.
4th Dragoon Guerclp 2lO
lit Dragoon■
6th Dragoons

Total

Remerve torero' of Artillery SOO

Total

A troop of horse artillery is 11,8 strong. 204 horses, four howit-
zers, six pounders, and two twelve•pounders.
A field battery is 190 strong,l7o horses, four howitzers, nine•
pounders, and two 24-pounders.
Three companies of battering trains.
The above enumeration comprises the rank and file
onjy—amounting to a total of 20,581 fighting men in
tife finest order of equipment, and in the highest
condition. In this the staff is not included, neither
are the commissioned or non-commissioned officers

of any part of the force—so that the round number
of :10,0(X) men and officers of all ranks may be set
down as the effective force ready to take the field toge •
ther. The marines under the command of Admiral
Dundas exceed 7,000 men. The French force by land
will muster 46,000 men.

After many changes of plans it is at length decided
that the British cavalry shall perform the journey to
the seat of war not only by the sea route, but on
board sailing-vessels. The result will be that two
months must elapse before they can reach their des-
tination, and this at a time when the rivers of Eng-
land are swarming with steamers—some of them of
2,500 tons burden—which would take men and
horses out in the fourth pan of the time. Nor is
delay on the voyage the only, or even the most im•