The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-16 00:00:00

876

THE WEEK.

THE position of the great Powers of Europe is at last defined with some
clearness. Russia, according to the reply of Count NESSELRODE, will
withdraw within her territories, and wait the eventualities of war; the
allies, England, France, and Turkey, will prosecute hostilities until
Russia will concede those material guarantees for the conservation of
peace which she at present refuses ; Austria, occupying the Principali-
ties—the first bone of contention—will remain neutral with arms in
her hands. Prussia, who desires nothing more than a return to the
status quo, will watch for openings of negotiation, and meanwhile will
make the most of the commercial advantages thrown in her way; Swe-
den refuses to listen to the voice of the allies, and will not break with
her great northern neighbour ; and the minor States of the world re-
main indifferent spectators of the quarrel.
Operations in the Black Sea are beginning just as operations in
the Baltic have ceased. The fleets under NAPIER are coming home,
and the expedition to the Crimea is going out. After the departure of
the French troops, it was clear that no more would be attempted this
season. The question of " wooden versus stone walls" has yet to be
decided. It is perfectly true, no doubt, that no masonry can resist the
concentrated fire of a line-of-battle ship ; and experiments to this end
can only prove what every one perfectly well knew before. But shot
at a long range would have comparatively little effect ; and the problem
is—a problem not lightly to be tried, for the sake of curiosity merely—
how ships can be brought into a position to act against land batteries,
without being exposed to the chance of receiving as much damage as
they inflict, or perhaps a great deal more. Copenhagen, Algiers, and
Acre can scarcely be alleged in precedent ; as in this case powerful
fleets are protected by the land batteries, which, in the case of our
ships being materially crippled, might issue from their refuge and
take them at a great disadvantage. For the year, we must be content
with the success achieved at Bomarsund.
The Crimea expedition—embarked in 600 vessels—is positively as-
serted to have sailed from Varna on the 4th. Marshal Sr. ARNAUD
himself is on board the Charlemagne. Details arc wanting, especially
as to the force which had actually sailed ; but we know enough to be
sure that it is one of the most powerful armaments ever borne on the
sea. The whole expedition was to rendezvous at an island at the
mouth of the Danube, and it was not supposed would reach the Crimea
until the Bth or 9th ; but we may now look hourly for some intelligence
of it. We are still without reliable information of the Russian force
assembled in the Crimea, and of the state of the defences on the land
side of Sebastopol. Lately the Russians had been making prodigious
preparations to strengthen themselves ; and the notice they received
of an untended attack must have operated to quicken their movements.
The Moniteur intimates, that, should the Russian force be found
stronger than anticipated, the troops will retire, and return home. In
other words, if Sebastopol cannot be taken by a coup-de-main, the
troops will not, with the short season for operations before them,
attempt to reduce the place by blockade, or by a regular series of ap-
proaches. Accounts vary widely as to the probable force of the
Russians. We may be sure that the attack will be brilliant, and we
may surmise that the defence will be desperate. Russia has a mighty
stake at issue—a fleet, an army, a fortress, and a province.
Contrary to expectation, the Russians, so lately victorious in Asia,
have been assailed by another foe. Their old enemy, SCHAMYL, has
descended from his mountains at the head of an army of cavalry, and,
if the telegraph is to be believed, has gained a victory over the
Russians near Tiflis, taking seven guns, and all the baggage of
the camp. In presence of this formidable foe, the Russians appear
to be concentrating their forces. We trust the report is not
true that SCRAMYL has murdered forty Russian ladies whom he took
prisoners.
War will have its sacrifices. A new Russian levy demands ten
men from every thousand in the west of the empire, and in France the
140,000 recruits of the class of 1853 are called into activity. Our
recruiting sergeants are busy, but they work in silence, and the result
is not known.

The health of the metropolks is reported to be improving. The
mortality last week was awful, and, as yet, no rational explanation
has been given of the terrific outbreak in the Golden-square district
Berwick street suffered the most. Few houses escaped, and from
one dwelling five bodies were carried in quick succession. The
Board of Health issues orders which, to have been of any service,
should have been issued weeks ago. Nearly all that can be done
now is to publish instructions for affording prompt relief in
case of need. Differences as to the best mode of treatment pre
vail as widely as ever. The calomel remedy is opposed by Dr.
AYRE, of Hull, to the castor-oil remedy of Dr. JOHNSON ; and the
large quantity of 70 to 144 grains is mentioned as having been
administered with the best results to patients. The experience
of both these eminent practitioners, however, points to the conclu-
sion that nature should in some way be assisted to throw off the
disease which presses so heavily on the springs of life.

The effervescence in Spain is rapidly subsiding. Honours and
rewards are showered on the patriots who promoted the revolution.
There was a sincerity of tone and holiest soldierly frankness about
the declarations of General DULCE, which raised a presumption that
he had really no other object at heart than the good of his country,
and one is proportionably sorry to see that he accepts a grand cross
and promotion as lieutenant-general for his part in the insurrection.

SATURDAY,

The Queen and Prince, with their beautiful family, made a rapid
journey on Thursday from London to Edinburgh for Balmoral.
Starting from the King's-cross station at eight o'clock in the morning,
they arrived at Edinburgh at six, and slept for the night at
Balmoral.
There are so many worlds inbusy England,—fashionable, religious,
political, scientific, literary, sporting, commercial, monetary, agricultural,
and a hundred others,— that a newspaper is always in danger of missing
some fact interesting to a class of its readers. How many thousands, or
hundreds of thousands, we wonder have taken more interest this
week in the St. Leger than in the Crimea expedition? The Knight of
St. George beat Ivan, as it is proper he should. We don't know what
odds constitutes an " outsider," but those who had confidence in tho
Knight must have laid out their money to good advantage at 10 to 1.
A question has been raised by a trial at the Middlesex Ses-
sions this week, whether a congregation of Mormons can claim the
benefit of laws intended for Protestant dissenters. We know how our
liberty-loving friends on the other side of the Atlantic would have
treated the question. They would have pulled down the meeting-
house, shot the preacher, and have maltreated all the worshippers
they could catch bald of. Here, however, we think it better to let
folly run its course so long as it keeps clear of offence. There is good
sense in as observation of the Times, that fanaticism, like a top, spins
round the faster for being whipped. It was rightly decided that these
Mormon fanatics were at liberty to meet without disturbance. The
best cure for error like theirs is the course pursued at Norwich this
week, where a free library was founded in the presence of the chief
personages of the city and neighbourhood. The speech of Sir Frrzaor
KELLY on the occasion was a noble one.
Spite of the increasing probabilities of a protracted war, the funds
rise, and are now higher than on an average of years we have been
accustomed to see them in times of peace. The explanation is easy.
Gold this week has been received to the amount of upwards of one
million sterling. This precious metal to the value of 1500,0001. arrived
in one day in various ships from Australia.

THE WHAT AND THE WHY.
A GERMAN PHILOSOPHIC SPECULATION.
What is the senso of the note profound
Illustrating Prussia's declaration?
Can there in Downing-street be found
One to explain the explanation ?
What's a " material guarantee,"
As it offers itself to Clarendon's eye ?
Why the same view cannot Prussia see ?
Unriddle me that, the what and the why !
Why is Lord John consigned to sloth,
The President's drowsy office in?
Why do Newcastle and Herbert both
Conduct the war—that's going to begin ?
Why was Sir George kept pining out
Till he whitewashed Lord John of perfidy?
Where are the President's threats so stout?
Unriddle me that, the what and the why !

What are the Austrians going to do ?
What are those things they " bases " call?
Shall we pass the Principalities through?
Shall we ever get into Sevastopol?
Why did they cheese the Bashi-Bazouks?
Whose course to the Government's came so nigh?
Why so black at the Bank are Gladstone's looks?
Unriddle me that, the what and the why!
And where is the Earl of Aberdeen?
And when will the smoke be all consumed?
And where the deuce has " Old Charley" been,
Since Plumridge's guns at Uleaborg boomed?
What work have we done in the Baltic deep ?
Will Sweden a bout for Finland try ?
Is St. German's in Dublin gone to sleep ?
Unriddle me that, the what and the why !
What caused the Sewers Commissioners fall?
What does Lord Palmerston find to do?
What is the use of Sir Benjamin Hall?
Who'll all his pretended work go through?
Must we have obsolete Ministers still?
Are the days of impeachment all gone by?
How long will these humbugs their offices fill?
Unriddle me that, the what and the why!

NEXT BUDGET.
(From a Ministerial Paper.)
THE Chancellor of the Exchequer, desirous that the proposals which
it will he his duty to submit to the House of Commons in April next
should be fully ventilated in the meantime, in order that the opinion
of the country may be obtained upon them, has requested ua to submit
to our readers the following outline of the Budget of 1855, as matured
by him, after some meditation, at a quiet watering-place on the coast of
Kent. We must premise, however, that, though the following details
are offered on authority, they are not official, and the Government is
in no way bound to any one or more of them, should circumstances
seem to dictate a departure from the contemplated course.
The House having resolved itself into committee,

THE

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