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

THE PRESS.

their destination are of the largest and most perfect charac,
ter, and when all the transports have united they will dis
play to the gaze of the enemy an armada of no less than'
600 vessels, covered and protected on every aide by a fleet
with & 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 pnt forth, to move more than 21,000 men
at present. They make the most of theirlimited resources,
certainly. They have a complete shore administration for
the fleet of transport t, and their Pirechon (14 Port, with its
°facers and men inspecting every pier anti 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
and Italian ports, schooners and brigs from Agde, Nou•
velle, Cette, Leghorn, Genoa, Hestia, ; 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 tin other; on 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 troops. 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 rendez polls flag at the fore;
commanding, W. Roy', ; in his absence Lieutenant
Oke, R.N., on board No. 39 transport. Steam-vessels, the
Emperor, the Pieloria, the Andes. Transports, Nos. 21,
39, 42, 43, 44, 80, 00, 78, 89, 98.
First piyision, blue triangular flag at the fore, Comman-
der Rawatorne, R.N.—Steam-vessels, the Teeming, the
Kangaroo, the Einem ; 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 Hydaepes ; transports, Nos.
31, 32, 51, 71, 82, 88, 90, and 91.
Third Division, red triangular flag at the fore, Com.
mender W. Hoseason, R.N.—Steam-vessels, Apollo, High.
flyer Medway, Cambria, Coltingham, Tynemoulh, and
Cyclops. Transports, Nos. 6, 20, 07, 96, 9;1, 55.
Fourth Division, red flag with white flag at the fore—
Steamers Onnoco, Columba, Avon, Gulden Fleece, Trans-
ports Nos. 9, 20, 37, 48, 56, 58, 59, 81, and 83.
Fifth Division, blue, with red triangular flag at the fore,
Lieutenant I)icken, R.N„ commanding—Steam-vessels,
Himalaya, Simla, Jame, Trent. Transports Nos. 1, 34, 40,
61, 85, 2, 36, and 59.

Each of these divisions wiU have a detachment of the
Beet to protect it ; but there is but little chance of any
attempt being matte against it.

The Bombay, a fine Indianian of upwards of 1,300 tons
burden, will be use as a hospital ship. There are at pre-
sent upwards of 40 I patients pn board.

It would appear that the place of disembarkation has
not pat been fixed on, for the very good reason that they
will be landed where there is the least appearance of sup-
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 councila 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 6, •!.tions, are usually confined
to Lord Raglan, Admiral Sir E. t.:ons, sometimes Admiral
Dmidati, if he happens to be at Varna, Sir George Brown
now and then, by invitation, Marshal St. Arnaud, Admiral
Hamelin or Rear-Admiral Bruat, and General Canrobert.

• If the counsels of the generals are not required, and it
they are to be 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 en 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 considera-
ble distance from Sebastopol, and the patience of people at
home who are hungering and thirsting fur " 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 land-
ing; rind, although Sir Lyup# ipfaratttgro artily
~ 1114 #4.si upp pplg plitsa4, jt
ts scarcely to be expected dn, 4(.41? fittees Infetior to tr
garrison of the town, we can be in a t state to invest
once such a fortress as Scial44oPQl.

A rumour, extensively circtilated at Varna, but far from
credible, is that the garrison of bdessa.bas contrived to send
a very strong reinforcement to the garrison of Sebastopol.
The naval officers assert it is absurd to say so, and 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 insist on the truth of the story that
these men were sent by sea while our fleet was at
13altschik—that they gave the blockading squadron the slip
by night, and that they wete conveyed in the large shallow
vessels and floats used for loading ships with corn at the
l)annbian ports, which, keeping close in shore, managed to
evade our cruisers.

893

RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY.

THE following interesting article, containing one or
two important facts, is from the Journal des
Dibats

" Baron Meyendorff, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary front the Emperor of Russia to the
Emperor of Austria, has just been replaced by Prince
Uortschskoff, who previously discharged similar
functions at the court of the King of Wurtemberg.
The Vienna journula have informed us that M. de
Meyendorff was received on the 4th of September itt a
private audience by the Emperor Francis Joseph, that he
presented to him his letters of recal, and that he is pre-
paring to return in a very short time to St. 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 Gortschakotf was the prelude of his
delinttive nomination to the important post which the
retreat of M. de Meyendorff rendered vacant. M. tie
Meyendorff enjoys among the Russian diplomatic corps an
excellent reputation, founded on long and useffil 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 dictiuguished 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, 1850. 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 welt
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 hint with peculiar favour. It is, never-
theless, to one of the recent gyrations of this great affuir
that M. de Meyendorff ones his disgrace througk one of
those reverses of fortune so common in Russia.

" M. de Meyendorff belongs to one of those German
families that have only become Russian since the conquests
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
brother, likes to employ ou missions to foreign Govern-
ments. To them he also willingly intrusts the carrying
out of his policy—of course under his personal superinten-
dence. Thus M. de Modem is 4 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 1860, the remembrance,
of the services rendered by Russia to Austria was still vivid,
and although Prince Schwartzenberg, the Prime Minister,
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 relstions between the two courts were filcile and friendly,
because the minister of the Emperor Nicholas knew that
he could depend 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 thie
minister strengthened the credit of M. de Meyeudorff, not
only because he had 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 close 'family tie, having
married Miss Bt,' Schaueninein, the new minister's sister.
At that time Fhe conflict that wits shortly to burst out ef
Constantinople and drag Europe inte the entanglemeop
of war was pot foreseen. As loop 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 es
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 Nicholas
asked for nothing more, and in fact this neutrality sufficed
him, because written communications from isnidon had
reached him at the same time, declaring ' that there was
no reason to be uneasy about an alliance between France
snd England, one that was impossible, and which nobody
wished to have mooted.' Abont this same period M. de
Meyendorff was summoned to St. Petersburg. The Em-
peror wished to discuss matters directly with him. That
was the moment when lie was most in favour. The Ern!
peror showed him such great astisfitction and such bound-
less confidence, that alarm was felt fur M. de Nesaelrode.
The old Russian nobility took umbrage at it and ai4e4
with the old Chancellor!
" What were in 1853 die reel designs of the kapperor MRinisie?‘ That is a point it would he of great iniportauco
art?
In iiye more light thrown upon. M. de Meyendorir w
certamly acquainted with them, and doubtlegs he w
thinning of thew when lie wrote' to his friends at P i
London, and Berlin :—' I have nu pretension to prephesiti
but quite simply I think 1 way say that the geuppl poilas
of Mnrope will not 'met a year, sud am& hefore a year wp
shall see great evens:
" M. de Meyendarif had returned to Vienna., where 11
found great changes. He came to en riplanation wit,
Prince Mettemich :—' l'aice care,' 'aid to him the o
Chancellor ; ' from what I have just heard, I comprehend
-veil that your Emperor wishes to go very far againai
Turkey ; let him reflect on it, and let him consider that
the moment is not seasonable to make a breach by
violence in this Government. Be persuaded that if he
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
M. Meyendorff, ' that the Et/verve sees things in a very