The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-23 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

their destination are of the largest midmost perfect eharae.
ter, and when all the transports have united they will dis
play to the gaze of the enemy an armada of no less than
64k1 vessels, covered and protected on every side by a fleet
with a battery of 3,000 pieces of artillery, and manned by
the bravest seamen in the world. What preparations our
French allies are making we are not in a position to state,
but believe they will not be able, notwithstanding every
effort they may put forth, to move more than 21,000 men
at present 'they make the most of their limited resources,
certainly. They have a complete shore adutinistratiou for
the fleet of transports, and their Direction di Port, with its
officers and men inspecting every pier and regulating the
moorings and movements of every little boat, is admirable
in its way, but unfortunately there is a want of material to
work upon. Their vessels are the sweepings of French
anti Italian ports, schooners and brigs from Agde, Non.
veils, Cette, Leghorn, Genoa, Basalt, &c. ; and, although
they cram them as much as human nature and French
soldiers can bear the process, they cannot carry the army,
They must return, therefore, after they have landed one
cargo to get the other; of the other hand, we have of
fleet of transports of unparalleled magnitude, and the
arrangements for their management are of corresponding
excellence.

So much for the order of sailing of the troop?. Next
comes the naval disposition
The arrangement and distinguishing marks of each
division of these transports are as follows :
First there is the fleet of the Light Division; distin-
guishing flag, checkered or remiervous flag at the fore ;
commanding, W. Roy*, lt,N.; in his absence Lieutenant
Oke, R.N., on board No. 89 transport. Steam-vessels, the
Emperor, the Victoria, the Andes. Transports, Nos. 21,
39, 42, 43, 44, bO, 60, 78, 89, 98.
First Diyision, bine triangular flag at the fore, Comman-
der Rawstorne, RS'.—Steam-vessels, the Twining, the
Kangaroo, the Emu; transports, Nos. 3,4, 7, 10, 19, 23,
and 47.
Second Division, white triangular flag at the fore, Com-
mander Franklin, R.N., or in his absence Lieutenant
Boyce, R.N., in No. 91 transport.—Steam-vessels, the City
of London, the Melbourne, the Hyduspes ; transports, Nos.
31, 32, 51, 71, 82, 88, 90, and 91.

Third Division, red triangular flag at the fore, Com-
mander W. Hoseason, R.N.—Steam-vessels, Apollo, High.
flyer, Afethray, Cambria, Cotgingham, Tynemouth, and
Cyclops. Transports, Nos. 6, 20, 97, 06, 9;1, 55.
Fourth Division, red flag with white flag at the fore—
Steamers Orinoco' Colombo, Avon, Golden Fleece, Trans-
ports Nos. 0, 20, 37, 48, 50, 58, 59, 81, and 83.
Fifth Division, blue, with red triangular flag at the fore,
Lieutenant Dicken, gcommanding—Steam-vessels,
Himalaya, Sit*, Jesus, Trent. Transports Nos. 1, 34, 40,
61, 85, 2, 36, and 59.
Each of these divisions will have a detachment of the
fleet to protect it ; but there is but little chance of any
attempt being made against it.
The Bombay, a fine Indianian of upwards of 1,300 tons
burden, will be uses: as a hospitalship. There are at pre-
sent upwards of 40 I patients pn board.
It would appear that the place of disembarkation has
not yet been fixed on, for the very good reason that they
will be landed where there is the least appearance of suc-
cessful opposition. Lord Raglan is close to a degree. He
consults none of his generals, save, perhaps, that he takes
into his confidence Sir George Brown, who knows how to
keep a secret as well as his chief. When people at home
read of councils of war being held at Varna they must not
imagine that all the generals of division attend them. In
fact, these conferences, at which no doubt large political
and strategical considerations are held in view rather
than the details of military operations, are usually confined
to Lord Raglan, Admiral Sir E. Lyons, sometimes Admiral
Dundas, if he happens to be at Varna, Sir George firown
now and then, by invitation, Marshal St. Arnaud, Admiral
Hamelin or Rear-Admiral Bruat, and General Caniobert.
• If the couusels of the generals are not required, and if
they are to he regarded merely as executive officers, per-
haps this is the only plan to be observed in conducting
these deliberations; but it is very questionable whether it
is a plan which conduces to promote an unison of feeling
between the chief and his immediate subordinates, or
whether it enables them to enter with alacrity into a
campaign as to the object of which they are kept quite in
the dark. However, nearly every one looks with confi.
dence to the result, and places full reliance on Lord
Raglan's soundness of head and clearness of judgment. It
is probable that the landing will take place at a considers.
ble distance from Sebastopol, and the patience of people at
home who are hungering anti thirsting for "the fall of
Sebastopol," will be severely tried, and the chances are a
little against the incidents of its capture being ready by
Christmas for repetition at Astley's. It is certain the
Russians are in force at or near all our pet places of huid,
lug ; 4nd, *loo4gh fiis is:. 1,7540# ipttrltfo4ll OA Ruh 3'
SilliPS fen F flPte Dr the heseti, it
is scarcely to be expecle that, wit # else; H4eoor
garrison of the town, we can be in a fit state to invest at
once such a fortress as behiSOPPQL
rumour, extensively circylated at Varna, but far from
credible, is that the garrison of tnlessalias contrived to send
a very strong reinforcement to the garrison of Sebastopol.
The naval officers assert it is absurd kr say so, end that if
any reinforcement was sent, it must have been despatched
by land round to the neck of the isthmus; but there are
many persons who nutlet on the truth of the story that
these men were sent by sea while our fleet was at
Ilaltsellik—that they gave the blockading squadron the slip
by night, and that they were conveyed in the large shallow
vessels and floats used for loading ships with corn at the
Danubian ports, which, keepipi 44,444 awe, managed to
evade our cruisers.

89a

RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY.
THE following interesting article, containing one or
two important facts, is trout the Jour:6(a des
Debuts:—

" Baron Meyendorff, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary from the Emperor of Russia to the
Emperor of Austria, has just been replaced by Prince
Gortachakoff, who previously discharged similar
functions at the court of the King of Wurtemberg.
The Vienna journals have informed us that M. du
Meyendorff was received on the 4th of September in a
private audience by the Emperor Francis Joseph, that be
presented to him his letters of recal, and that he is pre-
paring to return in a very short time to tit. Petersburg.
This news surprised no one. The recal of M. de DI eyendorff
was announced several weeks ago, and it was not doubted
but that the mission extraordinary, and apparently
temporary, of Prince Gortachakutf was the prelude of his
definitive nomination to the important post which the
retreat of M. de Meyendorff rendered vacant. M. de
Meyendorff enjoys among the Russian diplomatic corps an
excellent reputation, founded on long and useful services:
he is praised for his profound acquirements, his intelli-
gence, his skill, his devotedness to the interests and glory
of his country, and for his deference to the will of his
sovereign. M. de Meyendorff was assuredly one of the
most dittiuguished agents possessed by the imperial Cour
of St. Petersburg. lie has represented his Government at
Vienna for nearly four years, having been accredited on the
20th of October, 1840. M. de Meyendorff witnessed the
birth and growth of the Eastern question ; it was in some
sort under his hand that the very numerous incidents were
developed that have often changed the character of this
question. It was he who specially directed the negotia-
tions the centre of which was in Vienna. The Emperor
Nicholas treated him with peculiar favour. It is, never-
theless, to one of the recent gyrations of this great affair
that M. de Meyendorff owes his disgrace through one of
those reverses of fortune so common in Russia.
" M. de Meyeudorff belongs to ono of those German
families that have only become Russian since the conquest,
of Peter the Great and the great Catherine, and which
families the Emperor Nicholas, imitating in this respect
the example of the Emperor Alexander, his predecessor and
brotber,likes to employ ou missions to foreign Govern-
ments. To them he also willingly incrusts the carrying
out of his policy—of course under his personal superinten-
dence. Thus M. de Medem is * Russian, of German ex-
traction, and so likewise the Chancellor of the Empire, M.
de Nesselrode. who has been for forty years the Minister
of Foreign Affairs. When Baron Meyendorff arrived at
Vienna towards the end of the year IS6O, the remembrance,
of the services rendered by Russia to Austria was still vivid,
and although Prince Schwartzenberg, the Prime Minirt r,
had partially revealed more than once a desire of embracing
the first favourable opportunity in order to withdraw Aus-
tria from the influence of the St. Petersburg Cabinet,
although he had pronounced that expression so often re-
peated since : ' The moment is not remote when Austria
will astonish the world by the greatness of its ingratitude,'
the relations between the two courts were facile and friendly,
because the minister of the Emperor Nicholas knew that
he could dend on the good wishes of the Emperor
Francis Joseph, and on the co-operation of Prince Metter-
nich, whose feelings were in general not very well disposed
towards Prince Schwartzenberg. The death of this
minister strengthened the credit of M. de Meyendortf, not
only because he bad no longer to defend himself against a
feeling of dislike that was incessant and always dangerous,
but still more because he was connected with the new
Minister of Foreign Affairs by a clues 'family tie, having
married Miss Buol Seheuenstein, the new minister's sister.
At tb*t time be conflict that was shortly to buret out el,
Constantinople and drag Europe into the entenglemeete
of war was pot foreseer). As soon as Russia raised these
formidable questions by which all Europe has been moved,
M. de Meyendorff bent his efforts to rendering more inti-
mate the alliance of the three Courts, and to securing at
all events the neutrality of Austria and Prussia in every
possible eventuality. He fancied he had succeeded, and he
did not hesitate to give his sovereign the assurance of suc-
cess on his personal guarantee. The Emperor Nicholes
asked for nothing more, and in fact this neutrality suilice4
him, because written cummunicalions from popdop Its
reached him at the same time, declaring ' that there wee
no reason to be uneasy about an alliance between France
and England, one that was impossible, and which nobody
wished to have mooted.' Abont this same period It de
Meyendorff was itunnioned to St. Petersburg. The Em-
peror wished to discuss matters directly with him. That
was the moment when he was most in favour. The Em:
peror showed him such great satisfaction and such bound 7
less confidence, that alarm was felt for M. de Neste:ll-ode.
The old Russian nobility took umbrage at it and siilea
with the 014 Chaecellor.
What were lq 184 tip reel design* of the Emperor 0
Rvsie?' Th 4; is a point. it, vvould be of great buiportauct
liaje Wore light t4oyn npop. M. de Weyendorf wee
pertemby pequablerl firth em? ani 'doubtleis he wag
thinking of them when' ie wrote to his friends at ?uric
lanidore and Berlin I have no pretension to prophesy,
but quite simply I think I may say that the geuerel plait
e/ Europe will not last a year, and gist I,festorr # ifia; No
shall see great events.:
" N. de liclendmif had returned to Viapni, wherH
found grco changes. lie camp to an esplanitttop wi
Prince 'Metternich Take care,' said to him the o
Chancellor ; ' from what T have just heard, I compreheed
well that your Emperor wishes to go very far against
Turkey ; let him reflect on it, and let him consider that
the moment is not seasonable to make a breach by
violence is this Government. Be persuaded that if lie
does not let the East alone, the face of things will
change over all Europe, and I should not like to be
answerable for anything.' I regret to tell you; replied
Y. Meyendorff, ' that the Evapprof 144111 thin. in a sag

8911

THE WAR.

LANDING OF THE ALLIED ARMY IN THE

ORME*.
On the morning of Saturday last, the 16th inst.,
despatches from Lord Raglan and Marshal 'St.
Arnaud reached Constantino?le by special steamer,
announcing to the embassies of England and France
that on Thursday, the 14th, a completely-successful
landing 114 been effected on the enemy's coast.
The intelligence was immediately communicated to
the embassies of friendly powers, and at 11 cm. of
the 16th Baron Bruck sent off a Tatar with the fol-
lowing message to the bead-quarters of Coupt Corq-
nini, at Bucharest:

" Constantinople, Sept. 16.
" On the 14th, 25,000 French, 25,000 English, and 8,000
Turks, disembarked at Eupatoria, without encountering
any resistance.
They immediately commenced their march to Sebas-
topol.
The transports have returned to Verna, to fetch the
reserve corps."
This despatch arrived at Bucharest op the 10th,
and at Vienna on the 20th. On its arrival in
Paris it appears to have been distrusted by the
Government. The Mopiteur published it only as a
private and unofficial message, and under " touts
reserve; " but afterwards an official note was posted
at the Paris Bourse ratifying it with the autbOrity of
M. de BoUrqueney, the French Minister at Vienna.
To complete the authentication of this moat 'im-
portant intelligence, it is added that telegraphic
accounts have been received by her Majesty's
Government from'llienpa and Bucharest announcing
that the allied forces, consisting of 25?060 English,
25,000 Freech,' and 8,000 Turkish .troops, landed on
the 14111 tit Eupateriel without meeting any resist-
ance and had commenced marching on Sebastopol.
It been stated that shots were exchanged and
lives lost during the landing, but this is not true.
The enemy's preparations were founded on a mis-
conception of the plan of the trench and EngliSh
generals, and were directed to the wrong point.
The chief French and English naval force was at
the entrance of Sebastopol, keeping guard over the
enemy's fleet during the landing. It is said upon
lust; certain authority that ships, with troops, are off
the fortress of Kinburn and Island Of Tendra, near
Odessa with a view of intercepting any Russian re-
inforcements intended for the Crupea. The whole
of this news came to hand by telegraph, and is ne-
cessarily brief.

The instructions issued to the troops at Yarns on
the 3rd of September at the moment of embarkation,
and furnished to every officer in the fleet for his
guidance in the great operation of landing the army
in the Crimea, haye now been published in this
country. These orders convey by anticipation the
most accurate idea that can he formed of the opera-
tion in which the forces were about to engage. It
assumed, in the first place, that the whole fleet., con-
sisting of sailing ships-of war, steamers-of war, and
transports, has accomplished the passage of that por-
tion of the Black Sea which lies between 1141tscLik
and the coast of the Jrittlea withqut apcidents, and
withotit any material departure from the order of
sailing, for the Place of every boat in each division
of the fleet is accurately determined, and it is intended
that the divisions should 01/1113C0 With the regglarity
of an army in the field. It is probable? as has been
stated in some of the German papers, that the troops
will chiefly be conveyed in the transports, leaving a
sufficient number of lips-of-battle ships to cover and
defend the enormous convoy, in the event pf the
Russian fleet attempting to molest the expedition.
But the whole naval armament will actively assist
with its boats and crews in the landing. The boats
will form and receive the men on board on the of-
shore side of each ship, partly toile nndsr the shelter
of the vessel in case the enemy should open his fire
from the shore, and partly n leave each Yese9l.St
liberty to open her own fire on the land. This cir-
cumstance denotes that ft is expected the troops will
Winbqk 4a shortsauce frogs he olf Pre, 'Rid off
gccount states Oat this distance will neF, exceed 3O
roe. Ile tare 140 to enter the boats with *IF
Fins 024 lir but ar_fl Poijotilp4? op 4
e lincßsee ppt RH: Tllgi TOIL 14100 apt
• biff°4 mull efPf4o,i, 640, 41% S-1 Aff
;gen wir Fefq ajiree 0014 !gel(' PIPIIP
meat, besides water, in their cantens: 4 tn9o4
of the fleet haying thus been tilled with men, they
will form in three grapd divisions —the first eon-
elating of all the launches and pinnaces from the
sailingships of the fleet, in which the 13ritatinfa's
boats will occupy the post of honour, op the extreme
right of the line; the second division will consist of
the paddlebox-boats of the war steamers towed by
their own cutters, and these will occupy the extreme
left ; the central, or third division, will contain all the
boats of the transport service, and will, consequently,
be by far the most numerous. These three divisions
ill form one vast continuous line, keeping a distance