The Press.
London, England, 1856-03-08 00:00:00

AN AMERICAN VIEW OF RUSSIA.

- -
A NOT uninteresting sketch of the present position of
Rassia, by an American gentleman lately arrived at
New York, after two years' residence in St. Peters-
burg, has been received this week by the American
mail. The views expressed are diametrically op-
posed to those of Colonel Tal Schaffner, of veracious
notoriety, to whim this American gentleman alludes
in rather forcible terms, as " A pretender—a bloated
" eulogist of Russia ; a publisher of fabulous ac-
__

SATURDAY,

" counts of Russia, which are publicly denounced in
" New York by Russian gentlemen as base fabricu-
" Lions."

With details of the internal administration of Russia
we have not much to do at present. Everyone is
aware that the Russian Government is despotic ; but
those portions of the sketch which relate to the
war and • its Effects upon Russia will be read eagerly.
First, with Cronstadt and our Baltic fleet last year,
the citizen of the United States confirms the views
we held last autumn, that want of decision in
Admiral Dundas lost him a fair chance of destroying
Cronstadt

Cronstadt is the sheet•anchor of the capital. Jt is the
chief stronghold of the empire. And yet Cronstadt came
very near being taken last year. And it should have been
taken. It was only a series of blunders that prevented it.
If an American engineer who comprehended English naval
affairs could have directed the fleet of Admiral Landes last
year he would have taken Cronatadt. But the admiral
was afraid of infernal submarine machines ; and on the
day that everybody expected Cronstadt would be taken he
retired ! The English fleet throw shells into the town,
which exploded and set the place on fire in several places.
The fleet could have canie up near enough to have
supported their advanced gun batteries ; and if a bold and
well-directed movement had been made on that day the
town would have been carried or burned to ashes.
Such was the opinion of the engineers of the Russian eat-
pire, who stood on the ramparts and looked on the scene.
They expected it. Thus Russia was saved—for Cronstadt
was spared. . . _

Cru'ustadt is about two miles in length by half a mile
wide. It is strongly fortified on the south side, while it is
open on the north. The channel being ou the southern
side, most of the guns are planted to command it But
with the light draft of boats which the allies are now build-
ing they could pass to the north side and open a deadly
fire, where they would be little exposed. When they should
once have passed Cronstadt they would be at the gates of
St. Petersburg. It is only nine miles.

But in Sebastopol, he tells us, lies the scene of the
deepest interest to Russia:—
It is strange how little the world comprehends the enor-
mous losses that Russia has suffered in that place. When
the clouds of war began to blacken over Europe. and it
was ascertained that Sebastopol was the point where the
allies would strike their chief blow, preparations were
made by Nicholas to concentrate his power in that direc•
tion, and he drained the empire of its best troop. When
the war began a large portion of the best trained divisions
of the Russian empire were marched towards Sebastopol,
numbering not less than two hundred thousand. Their
terrific losses, which were always greater than the allies
supposed, were constantly suptilied by new drains upon the
best departments of the Russian army. It is not only
probable, but certain, that up to the Ist of August, last
year, the Russians had lost three hundred thousand
picked men, and after the southern side of Sebastopol was
taken, and the losses were accur..tely ascertained, the
official report sent to St. Petersburg and the reports made
in person by the commanders to the Emyeror settled it
beyond a doubt that from the Ist of August till the retreat
to the north side of Sebastopol the losses must have
amounted to seventy-five thousand more. Such were the
private reports of Prince Gortschakoff that were laid before
the Emperor.

In that terrible seige, he tells us, her fine army has
been completely used,up. She has nothing now left
but serfs :

If Russia continues the present war, or maintains her
position towards the rest of Europe as she has taken it, she
must draw and train a new army from her serfs. Her
great army, that was the flower of her empire, the fruit of
her science, the glory of her imperial system, has melted
away before the assaults of the invincible allies. It is
gone. She has no army now. But she is looking forsanl,
for Russia is the longest-sighted empire that has existed
since the time of the Cfesars.
The impossibility of Russia being able to maintain
a lengthened contest with England and France, he
believes to arise entirely from the check given to her
trade. From their system of making all their calcu-
lation of profit from the soil twelve months ahead,
the interruption was not felt in 1854 5, but at present
the revenue of every nobleman in Russia, he asserts,
s seriously diminished :
The moral result of this conflict, with its attending cir-
cumstances, has left all classes in Russia (except a
small circle that flutters about the Court) deeply anxious
for peace.
Ist. The merchants want it, because their business is
interrupted, and ruin will attend all their enterprises un-
less they zan once more, through the Baltic, reach their
means of intercourse through the world.
2nd. The nobles are cut off from their usnal revenres.
because these channels are stopped. The serfs are deeply
discontented, because they are dragged away
of thousands from their homes to go into the army, and
shoot down men they never saw, and of whom they know
nothing. by hundreds

Cabinet Councils were held on Saturday and
Thursday afternoons at the Foreign-office. They
were attended by Viscount Palmerston, the Marquis
of Lansdowne, Sir George Grey, Mr. Secretary
Labouchere, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir
Charles Wood, the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, the
Right Hon. M. T. Baines, the Duke of Aro'', the
Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Pail-
mure, and Lord Stanley of Alderley. The Councils
sat for three hours and a half and tyro hours respec-
tively.

■

MARCH 8, 1856.

MA
T H
Mr. D:
A publi
important
ask him a
previous
would pe
publicly tl
at Paris,
house, if t
if he cane
some iuf
real state
Lord I
The he
articles w,
consent
to serve a
the bag(
Russia w
agreed to
That acce
an accep
wards rec
by the plc
I rather
tentiary d
at Paris, ii
ing this p
should be
cotiferenc,
o' Vienna
the force I
that, with
prelimina
proceed t
finite trea
matter. Ii
that is tc
the force,
treaty in
tiaries, to
suhstantis
Mr. lltt
Lord P
exact day.
RELA]
Mr. L
relations
had led t
and the
the Cou
Murray's
Persian
that ultit
his op
aide. lc
ness to
wife iron
seize he
we had r
of 1811,
to send s
patch Mi
Mr. Mur
Persia—
in the I
prejudice
fall of Kt
with the
throw P
conclusic
Governrr
especiall;
get hono
Lord .
Mr. Lay
national
viduals
universe.
quiesced
the case
the Pert
Mirza I
elsewher
to Shire:
agent fen
who had
Governn
Mirza
be imme,
tested, c,
Lion of t
Shiraz a
negotiati
sized
relative
0 one of
demand,
husb,,nd
gave rise
some vex
sian Mir
coming