The Press.
London, England, 1854-11-04 00:00:00

REINFORCEMENTS AND SUPPLIES.

Notice was posted on Thursday outside the Horse
Guards, by command of Lord Hardinge, that men
between 10 and 30, standing five feet four inches
and a half, being a reduction of one inch, were now
being enlisted for her Majesty's land forces. Notice
was also issued that the bounty had been increased
from 4/. to 01. per man.
The reinforcements sent out to the army in the
East this woek, and to be completed in a week to
come, amount to 4,000 men. These are to make up
for the casualties of the campaign.
The Courrier de Marseille of Wednesday says :
New contingents for the army of the East are being
daily embarked in our port, and departures are not less
numerous from Toulon. They are to form a new division
of our army (the sixth), and are to assemble at Constanti-
nople. One brigade of this division is to consist of the
23rd Light Infantry, the 28th Regiment a the line, and
the different troops which at present compose the corps of
occupation in Greece. This brigade, which is under the
orders of General Meyran, mast have already quitted the
Piraeus. Another brigade is to consist of the Bth batta-
lion of Chasseurs de Vincennes, and of two regiments not
yet designated, but which will probably be taken from the
garrisons of Marseilles and Toulon. The Chasseurs are
to leave Lyons on the Ist for this city, where they are to
embark. The corps at the Piraeus will soon receive im-
portant reinforcements, at present stationed in the Camp
du Midi, waiting for their turn to embark. All the rein-
forcements about to be sent out will increase our army in
the East to at least 75,000 men.
The Marseilles journals of the 28th ult. announce
the arrival in that port of Colonels Fraser and Pat-
terson, and about twenty other English officers, who
were to embark in the Vectia for the East. Gene-
rals Ventura and Galice, Artim Bey, and twenty-four
Sisters of Charity, had left for Alexandria in the

Lye argue.
Constantinople letters of the 24th state that 5,000
French troops from the Pincus had passed through
the Bosphorus for the Crimea.
One hundred thousand pairs of wooden shoes, and
the same number of woollen socks, are about to be
sent from Lyons to the French army in the East, in
order to protect the feet of the soldiers against damp
and cold during the winter.
Among the stores of winter clothing sent out to
the army are upwards of 70,000 pairs of worsted
socks, 90,000 woollen jerseys, 50,000 pairs of flannel
drawers, and 50,000 pairs of gloves, and still further
supplies of the same articles will be forwarded here-
after. Arrangements have also been made to send
out 25,000 great coats, which will be an addition to
the ones already possessed by each man; and the
army clothiers have, at the request of the Govern-
ment, completed 30,000 additional suits of winter
clothing, which will all leave this country before the
middle of the month.
FLOATING BATTERIES.
The British War-office has ordered 120 new gun-
boats, with two heavy guns in each, and forty floating
batteries, with seventy guns in each—total 2800
guns—to be ready in the spring for Cronstadt. The
French have agreed to send a large force.
It is stated that Government has entered into a
contract for the manufacture of about 2,000 tons
(worth 50,0001.) of enormous slabs or plates made of
the best scrap iron, with which powerful floating
batteries are to be covered, so as effectually to render
them proof against the heaviest shot the Russians

THE PRESS.

can throw. These plates vary from eight to twelve
feet in length, are from twenty-one to thirty-six inches
broad, and about four and a half inches thick. Each
plate will weigh from about a ton and a half to up-
wards of three tons; and, after being fitted, they are
to be bolted to the outside of the floating batteries.
From experiments it appears that iron plates of such
scantling not only resist the heaviest shot, but break
them in pieces when they strike. So urgent are the
authorities to have the batteries ready for active ope-
rations against Russia in the spring, that the contract
has been divided amongst the principal makers in
Glasgow, Newcastle, Lowmoor, and other places in
the north of England.
ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS.
Campaigning under difficulties gives an eminently prac-
tical turn to men's minds, while it makes them indifferent
to the pomps and vanities of this world, and fills them with
an utter abhorrence of impedimenta—bulky and useless
baggage. A young artillery officer, just come out, died
lately of one of the prevailing diseases. As usual in such
cases his kit was sold by public auction.. It was very
valuable, for he had just gut his outfit, and the things were
all of them quite new. After the sale I saw the catalogue
with the prices paid, and took the following notes of some
which struck me as characteristic :—A. military cloak, Os. ;
one pair of worsted socks, 10s. ; a shell-jacket2s. 6d. ; a pair
of gold epaulettes (quite new), 3s. ; a clasp knife, 10s. The
epaulettes were scarcely worn. The price, I understand,
is til., and 3L could always be realised in London for the
gold they contain ; out here their value is far below that
of a common bone-handled clasp knife or a pair of worsted
socks, which in London would be dear at two shillings.
What English merchant will relieve our wants and gain a
fortune in return P And if we remain in the Crimea, what
enterprising tailor will come out with a score or so of
German journeymen to rig our winter kits of stout cloth
and furs. Here is a new Australia with rich and virgin
diggings for men of moderate capital and a good deal of
enterprise. About eight days ago a canteen man from Vera
came up onboard the Cambria transport. He had some boxes
containing sherry, pickles, dried tongues, salt, mustard,
pepper, and tobacco. He squatted in one of the empty
shops, sold his goods in three days, cleared 37,000 piastres
profit, and went back to Pera to fetch a fresh cargo of his
wares, which were all of the worst description.—Corres-
pendent of Daily News.
The Russian prisoners at Lewes are making a capital trade
with their toys, many of which are very ingenious. Owing
to the fine weather during the past week the prison has
been completely thronged with visitors from Brighton and
the neighbourhood, all anxious to become purchasers of the
toys manufactured by the captives, and the demand has
become so great as to almost exceed the supply. The pri-
soners are quite pleased with their trade, and find it far more
profitable than serving in the ranks of the Czar, as thl. is
the lowest price paid for a toy. The men seem very happy,
and their physical appearance has very much improved
since their feeding on English rations. The officers, who
are on parole, frequently enjoy a ride over the South
Downs.
THE BALTIC FLEET.
The actual departure of the combined fleets from
the Baltic has now taken place. The approach of
frost, and the presence of heavy weather, bringing
fogs and storms, have rendered this movement a mat.
ter of necessity. Some vessels still remain, to watch
the outlets into the ocean ; but the coast navigation
and internal waters of the Baltic are left open to the
Russians, until the ice advances sufficiently to seal
up the harbours. Letters from Revel, of the 20th,
while stating that English men of-war had quitted
the Gulf of Finland, report that the merchants of
Riga, Revel, and other Russian maritime towns, in-
tended celebrating their departure by a fete ; the re-
joicings were to be public.
Many of the British vessels were anchored at Kiel
at the date of the last advices. Sir C. Napier had
been indisposed, but was recovering, and went on
the 30th ult. to Hamburg with Captain Munday, en
route to Altona, where he purposed visiting the King
of Denmark. The Edinburgh, with the flag of Ad
miral Chads, arrived at Kiel on Wednesday, making
the English squadron complete. Almost all lithe
French ships have returned home. The Inflexible,
the French admiral's ship, anchored off Deal on Mon-
day, and proceeded next day to Brest. Other vessels
had arrived at Brest by the 26th, and the rest were
expected shortly. Admiral Plumridge's squadron
was seen by her Majesty's ship Hecla on Saturday
last, in long. 3 deg. 30 min., all well, and making its
way westward against a strong head wind.
An apologetic view of the naval campaign in the
Baltic is given by the Paris correspondent of the
Times in a letter written on Wednesday last. He
says :
The Galt of Finland only contains two strong places
which it would be necessary to possess ourselves of—
Sweaborg, which will render us masters of Finland ; ant'
Croustade, which will open to us the road to St. Peters-
burg. Revel is of little or no use; it is without any
stragetical line : its port is completely bare, and does not
contain a single vessel, and for several years past it has
ceased to serve as a station to the Russian navy. The
capture of Sweaborg, with the maritime resources which we
shall have at our disposal next year, and with a corps of
from 30,001) to 40,01 X) men, is certain. The nature of the
coast is such that a landing cannot be prevented, provided
it he effected at from five to six miles from Helsingfors,
which also can be taken. It is vet,' little fortified, and,
situate as it is at the distance of a mile from Sweaborg,
completely commands this fortress. Attacked with such

SATURDAY,

advantages, both by land and sea, Sweaborg will infallibly
fall, and, once taken, Finland will belong to us, fur the
nature of the ground does nut permit an army to keep the
field. By making use of the same means Crenate& cannot
hold out. _ _ _ _

The capture of the Aland Isles is much more important
than has been supposed. Its main object was to effect a
diversion in the Baltic, to completely occupy the attention
of the Russians, and to allow of the preparations for the
expedition to the Crimea; and that object has been
attained. The Russians were led to believe that the
grand attack in the Baltic would take place this year.
They maintained there am enormous force, and neglected
the Crimea, in which they otherwise would have concen.
trated all their strength and resources. It was firmly be.
lieved at St. Petersburg that Sweaborg and Cronstadt were
to be attacked before the close of the campaign, while any
attempt on Sebastopol was regarded as impossible. It was
that conviction which occasioned the counter orders for the
despatch of the troops that Prince Menachikoff had de•
mauled so far back as June.

Independently of that consideration, the taking of 130.
marsuud is important as a military operation. The de.
fence made by the Russians was contemptible, and the
allies, in fact, encountered nothing like a serious resis-
tance ; but Russia has lost in it a military and maritime
establishment of immense importance for the future. It is
admirably situate, and its bay, Lumpur, is one of the finest
of Europe. An equivalent for the loss of Bomarsund can•
not be found anywhere. Such as it was, it not only could
be defended, but rendered very difficult to be taken it the
Russians had defended the passes, and tried to prevent our
landing. Of the garrieon there was only the battalion of
Finns, amounting to NO men, who really offered resis-
tanee.

CHAPLAINS FOR THE ARMY.
THE Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
having organised a special fund for sending spiritual
aid to the sick and wounded soldiers in the East, a
public meeting to assist and further that object was
held in Willis's Rooms on Wednesday. The Arch-
bishop of Canterbury took the chair, and among the
numerous assembly were the Bishops of London,
Argyle, and Gibraltar, the Rev. R. Gleig, Chaplain-
General to the Forces, Sir W. P. Wood, Mr. Ser-
geant Adams, and many other distinguished per-
sonages. In opening the proceedings the Primate
said :

They had a double duty to discharge on the present
occasion—a duty as Englishmen and as Christians. As
Englishmen they could not but sympathise with those who
were maintaining the honour of their country under very
unfavourable circumstances, not only in a distant country,
but in an unhealthy climate. As Englishmen they par-
ticipated in the glory, and ought also to participate in the
sufferings and trials by which it was achieved. lint they
had a special duty to perform in their character of Chris.
Liana, on this occasion, which presented a remarkable
opportunity for promoting the glory of God and the welfare
of man. They knew not how many of their fellow-country-
men might be suffering at that moment from wounds rt-
ceived in battle, or from the influence of serious disease ;
and these were the times when the consolations of religion
were not only most needful, but often, under God's grace,
most effective. (fl ear, hear.) They would, therefore, he
was sure, not deny or refuse them the means of obtaining
these consolations. Often, too, the bodily health was
affected by the state of a man's mind. He might allude to
the sentiment uttered thirty years ago by a hero whose
name would be always venerated by Englishmen, after his
return from a long war. He said that had the army been
supplied with a competent number of chaplains it would
save him 2,000 men a year. That was a secondary
consideration, no doubt. The great point was that those
who were now suffering should not have the additional
pain of supposing that their countrymen at home were in•
different to their spiritual interests, which now, at least,
they believed to be the most important. (Hear, hear).
A statement, in the nature of a report, VMS after-
wards made by the Rev. E. Hawkins, who acknow-
ledged that the whole merit of originating this appeal
for more spiritual assistance must be assigned to the
army itself, a few military
officers having been the
first to bring the subject forward. Ho then recapitu-
lated the steps that had been taken to accorophsh
their object, declaring that the contributions already
offered had been most liberal, and the proffers of
personal service numerous. Applications to the
War-office had also received a reedy and generous
reonse, in confirmation of which statement Mr.
Hawkins read a letter from Mr. Hawes, written by
the direction of the Secretary at War, and anno.uncithnge
that a salary of 1001. per annum, together with
usual field and other allowances, would be granted
to every clergyman recommended for the work by
the society, and approved by the War Deparunent.
The Bishop of London, the Rev. Mr. Wog, Mr. Ser-
igeant Adams, and other speakers, addressed the
meeting, and subscriptions to a considerable amount
• were banded in and announced before the assemblage
id broke up.

THE Nouvelliste Vaudois tells the following story.-" A
negro woman, belonging to one of our fellow
ofcitizen
found, a few months since, an enormous diamond,
one
the finest in the world. Of course she received her liberty
as the price of her treasure trove. The diamond was at
once sold for 24,0001. sterling. The purchaser started f, r
London and offered his precious bargain to the h
Queen o
court
England for :100,0001. The price was not too hig as
pared with other precious stones of repute, but the Queen
replied that, under existing circumstances, she ha tic
thousands to throw away upon her toilette, and the dia
mond still remains for sale."

p

NOVEMBER 4, 1854.