The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-01 00:00:00

TURKEY.

(FROM THE COIRESPONDENT OP THE DAILY NEWS.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 18.
In my last, I communicated the substance of a de-
spatch of the 13th instant, from General Canrobert.
Another of an earlier date-10th instant—delayed
by some accident on the way, reached this after the ,
departure of the mail, and which contributes unfor-
tunately, with a variety of other evidences, to estab-
lish a melancholy fact—that the British army is con-
siderably reduced. „The English have ceded to us,"
says General Csnrobert, " a portion of their lines,
namely, the works commanding and destined to
batter iu breach the Malakoff Tower, on which a
serious attack will most likely be made within a
short delay."
The following is also the substance of tho latest
intelligence from the same source " During the night
of the llth-12th inst., a body of the Russians, amount-
ing to two hundred and fifty men, sallied forth
to attack a point on the French lines. After a sharp,
close conflict with the bayonet, which lasted about
10 minutes, the enemy, as usual, was repulsed, and
forced to retire within the walls, with a loss of 20
killed and seven prisoners captured. On the French
side the casualties amounted to seven wounded in this
encounter."

I have to correct a lapsus calami in my
last. The total effective force of the French
army actually in the Crimea, amounts to
sixty-eight thousand men—eight divisions ; and, as
already noticed, the ninth is daily expected, but to
remain at Constantinople till further orders. The
tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, it is reported, are also
on the way; and this gallant and formidable force
will amply supply all deficiencies, and suffice alone
for every object. Their noble and intrepid leader is;
besides, according to the concurring testimony of all
with whom I have conversed, the inspiriting genius
of the camp—soldier-like, active, indefatigable, übi-
quitous ; watching with anxious solicitude day and
night the details of service in every department
of the besieging army. He is well known
along the lines—his diminutive stature con-
trasting strangely with the massive proportions of his
favourite white charger. He is, of necessity,
well known by sight to the great majority of our own
officers and soldiers with whom I have come in
contact—and which, I must confess, is not invariably
the case with their own Commander.in-Chief. No
later than yesterday Captain told me—" Can-
robert is a soldier, a hero ' • he cares not a d— for
storms and tempests, for shot and shell, for all the
privations and hardships attendant on warfare. His
generous sympathy, moreover, and constant readi-
ness to supply with his own resources the sad defects
in every department of our military legislation, is a
theme of universal admiration throughout the British
ranks. On reviewing, for instance, a point of our
lines where the labours and duties were far beyond
the forces and superhuman efforts of our heroic
soldiery—about 2,500 men, I think, of the
3rd division—Canrobert did all in his power
to induce the commander to allow them a little
quiet and repose, and retire to the camp—and I
that he would order instantly 6,000 of hiss
own troops to do duty meantime, and prosecute their
arduous labours. Strange to sant' my informant
adds, "the British commander had a comfortable
house on that point, which, it is presumed, was a
sufficient and legitimate motive for rejecting that
generous offer."
The French, I have learned from the same source,
after twelve hours duty is the trenches, are relieved,
and have not again till the fifth day to resume these
labours; whereas, a respite of twelve hours is all
that can be allowed to our own poor fellows, under
existing circumstances.
On the 16th inst., I have good reason to think, a
courier arrived here with despatches dated 9th inst.
for M. de Block, announcing that Prince Gortchakoff
had bees authorised to negotiate on the terms stipu-
lated by the Western Powers, and enjoining the inter-
nuncio to demand of the Porte that instructions be
transmitted to her representative at Vienna, em-
powering him to take part in the conferences. Lord
Radcliffe, it appear., has not received as yet in
respect to this matter advice. from his govern-
ment, and did not appear disposed to coun-
sel the Porte to conform in this point to
the wishes of the Austrian minister However,
the affair, it is said, has been submitted to the de-
liberation of the grand council, and the result will
be in all probability compliance with the solicitations
of the Austrian cabinet.
The Russian palace at Pera has been finally given
up to the French, and M. de Bruck withdrawn his
protest; on condition, however, of the occupants
being responsible for all damage or losses possibly

accruing, either in respect to the furniture or tka
edifice itself.
It appears that the mining operations at Sebastopol
had been carried to an enormous extent, and that
some officers and soldiers now in the French hospital
have been within the walls of the city, and brought
off, among other trophit s, a couple of greyhounds
and some altar ornament., which are displayed glut
much pleasure to visitors.
The ground is covered with snow, and the theme.
meter at zero; but the sun is bright, the horizon
without a speck, and the wind, I am sorry to say,
perpetually from the same quarter.