The Press.
London, England, 1854-07-08 00:00:00

RESS.

SATURDAY,

While waiting in suspense for the event, the bombardment of
Bomarsund, the capital of the. Aland islands, furnishes some presump•
tion that wooden may be more than a match for stone walls.
The Hecla, under the command of Captain HALL, with the Valorous
and Win—all paddle-steamers—opened fire against the fort at
Bomarsund, mounting eighty guns, with other defences. Our ships,
moving in a circle, delivered their fire with great precision and effect,
the enemy's fire usually falling short. After six or seven hours' firing
the batteries were silenced and the works set in flames. Three or four
of our men were slightly wounded, but none killed. A midshipman in
the Hecla caught up a burning shell which fell on the deck and threw
it in the sea. We are glad to see that his gallantry has been rewarded
with prompt promotion.
The Russian account of the disastrous affair at Gamla Carleby
boasts, with some reason, of the advantage gained. The officers and
men taken prisoners are at Helsingfors, and well treated. A rich
prize has narrowly escaped our cruisers. The Cezarouitz, with a rich
cargo of furs from China, valued at a quarter of a million sterling,
sailed from St. Helena early in June. She was looked out for by our
cruisers in the Baltic, but managed to escape them and to get safely
into Cuxhaven.
The parliamentary proceedings of the week are still marked by
Ministerial failure. The Testamentary Bill is added to the list of
measures withdrawn. Foreigners are beginning to ridicule the con-
stitutional system which produces only such abortive results. Sir
WILLIAM MOLESWORTH has delivered himself of a long lecture (which
he has been preparing during the whole session) on " free ships, free
goods." According to M'CULLOCH, the foreign trade of Russia was
chiefly carried on by English merchants, and, as that direct trade is
now at an end, Russian produce is shipped from German ports, and
German merchants enjoy the advantages which our traders once pos •
sessed. Our regulations but slightly affect Russia, while they severely
injure our own merchants and confer a positive advantage on German
commerce. Sir WILLIAM was too cramful of GROTIUB and BYNKER-
SHOCK, and HI UNECCIUB and KLUBER, and HAUTEFEUILLE, to bestow
notice on this practical part of the question. Through the accident of
the two-minute glass at the SPEAKER'S hand being quickly turned on
Monday, Ministers escaped defeat on the Maynooth grant. The great
amendment the Oxford bill received in the Commons will, as we anti-
cipated last week, secure its adoption by the Peers. What now
becomes of the PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL'S pretence that the abolition
of the matriculation oath was to be resisted, as it might endanger the
success of the bill ? Lord DERBY pleasantly exposed the Pythagorean
processes to which the bill has been subjected since its first intro-
duction.
The insurrection in Spain has taken no one by surprise. The
dissoluteness of the Court was notorious, and military malcon-
tents have taken advantage of the mid dissatisfaction. It
does not yet appear that the people haVrtaken much part in the
movement either way. The insurgents, headed by O'IIoNNELL, discuss
the abdication of the Queen, and the establishment of a regency
during the minority of her daughter. Bad as the existing system may
be, the public are not like declare warmly for so perilous a change.
'Very different reports ared from the head-quarters of the Court
and the insurgents. The Queen has displayed some energy in
haranguing the troops. General NARVAEZ and General SERANO have
not yet declared themselves, and the insurrection seems to languish.
The accounts from America warn us to expect another filibustering
expedition against Cuba. In the southern States men embark capital
in these piratical expeditions as in other countries men take tickets in
lotteries. Another item of intelligence is more favourable. Notwith-
standing Sir R. MURCHISON'S prediction of speedy exhaustion, the gold.
mines in California are becoming more productive, and fortunes were
often made in a single week.
Ireland supplies some other items this week than the seditious
harangues of Romish factions. A gentleman—as he must be accounted
by station—attempted, with the aid of a gang of armed ruffians, to
carry off a lady—an heiress of course—as she was leaving church.
The time has gone by for such daring attempts. The people pelted
him off with stones first, and in the end he was overtaken by the
police, and safely lodged in his proper station—a gaol. The escapade
of Mr. O'FLAHERTY is more in accordance with the times.
The Sydenham Palace appears to be prospering. The shilling
days yield most money to the treasury. On an average about 14,000
persons pay daily ; and, with increased accommodation and a more
liberal system of management, these numbers would probably be
augm euted.

NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

H.M. Screw—, in the Doldrums, off Downing-street,
July 7, 1854.

MY DEAR —,—You will be doubtless impatient for another letter
from me, and anxious to know how the great Russo-British war goes
on in these latitudes. Badly enough, lam sorry to say. That old
tub, the Premier, got into sad trouble a few days sin ce. She was
no wretchedly handled as to get into a position where the Lynd-
hurst raked her terribly fore and aft ; the Derby threw heavy
metal into her starboard bow , and the Clarendon under her lee
poured a nasty broadside right into her quarter—to say nothing of
several minor assailants. Captain Gordon, however, fired guns
briskly on all sides—to be sure they were chiefly blank cartridge—
and then cleverly escaped in the smoke. His hull, they say, was
much d,►maged notwithstanding, and he may likely have to lay up
for repairs.