The Press.
London, England, 1856-08-16 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

of California and Australia, the benefits arising from the
great discoveries of recent times would have simply aug•
mented those distresses under which the country so pain.
fully laboured during the quarter of a century before 1850.
The learned baronet then touched upon the result of
the late war, and pointed out the peculiar provi-
dential character of its operations :

What has been the cause of the success of the allies iu
the late war? It was in the " distance " of Russia being
turned against herself ; while the sea—the proper basis for
our military operations, the proper homefor England—was
close to the seat of war. We know what we suffered by
seven miles of land transport from Balaklava to the front,
but what must the Russians have suffered? They suffered
thus:—Out of 20,000 of the Imperial Guard who left
Moscow for the Crimea, only 4,0,10 lett Simferopol to fight
the allies; 16,000 were destroyed by disease, fatigue, and
the other incidents of a long military operation of that
description. But there is another illustration which is
still more striking than this. If we had gained in the
commencement of the Crimean war that decisive success
we all at one time hoped for, we should at this moment
have been fighting a desperate and a doubtful war. We
might have been involved in a war with Russia for the
next twenty years. The Russians would have retired into
the interior of Southern Russia. We never could have
followed them ten miles. The strength of Russia would
have been intact, and they would have retired to their
deserts unscathed. But in consequence of our not suc-
ceeding in capturing Sebastopol at once—in consequence
of the desperate strife carried on in the trenches for twelve
months, Russia, unwilling to lose the brightest gem in her
crown, made most stupendous and nnheard•of efforts to
protect it. The whole of Southern Europe was rendered
desolate to maintain Sebastopol ; and in the efforts to
fight at that great distance from her capital Russia lost
400,000 men, and in an empire boasting 75,000,000 popu-
lation was at last forced to sue fur peace for want of
soldiers.

Sir Archibald Alison concluded with a strong de-
precation of the strikes of workmen against masters.

Court no jrustan.

Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Royal
Family at Osborne, embarked on board the Victoria
and Albert on Tuesday evening last, and proceeded
on a cruise off the west coast, attended by the Fairy
and a squadron of four steamers. Her Majesty
visited Portland and Dartmouth, and arrived at Ply-
mouth on Wednesday. During the stay of the royal
squadron at Plymouth, her Majesty has made excur-
sions lip the Tamar, an'i visited the Countess of
Mount Edgecumbe. On Friday morning her Majesty
and family returned to town by rail.

His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the
Countess Persigny are expected to return to London
on the Ist proximo. Baron Malaret is officiating as
Charge d'Affaires in his Excellency's absence.
The Duke and Duchess of Richmond and family
arrived at Gordon Castle, Fochabers, N. 8., on Friday
week. A select party of the noble duke's friends
were to meet at the Castle on Tuesday last for grouse-
shooting.
The Duchess of Sutherland, accompanied by Lady
Blantyre, and lion. Miss Stuart, and Lord Ronald
Leveson Gower, left Stafford house a few days since
for Trentham, whence the duchess proceeds to Dun-
robin Castle.

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford arrived in town
last week from Endsleigh-cottage, near Tavistock,
and left Belgrave-square on Thursday for Woburn-
abbey.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland are at
present sojourning at Keilder Castle, Northumber-
land. _

1 he Earl of Derby i 3 recovering from his severe
attack of gout.
Viacotuit and Viscounte,ss Palmerston arrived in
town on Wednesday from Brocket, hall, Herts.
Mr. Disraeli is at present staying at Spa.
Miss Florence Nightingale, after her arduous
career of hospital service in the East, has arrived
safely at her home in Derbyshire.