The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-03 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

one was received with the most marked and polite atten-
tion. Every party in which there were ladies was accom-
panied by an officer, who explained the different objects
we encountered. We were also shown into the officers'
saloon, and there offered wine. The men were without
exception polite to a degree. Although access was allowed
to every part of the vessel, and their privacy was con-
tinually being broken in upon, not a word, not a look of
dissatisfaction ; not a laugh, a scoff, or even a leer was to
be seen or heard. The Hercule is manned by 1,000
sailors, and 200 marines. This, I think, is a somewhat
larger muster than is generally found on board a British
ship of the same size. The sailors are mostly young men,
slender, low of stature, but intelligent-looking, active, and
apparently perfectly contented. The marines off duty had
a more listless and apathetic look. Everything relative to
the fighting of the ship was in excellent order, the guns
and small arms being provided with the most recent WI.
provements. The men have not that robustness and mus-
cular strength of the British tar, nor is the discipline,
order, and neatness quite so good. It is, indeed, a ques-
tion whether extreme politeness and urbanity can be
united with such regularity and discipline as is to be met
with on board of a British ship-of-war. The officers are
generally of good family, have very much the appearance
of Englishmen, and seem zealous in the performance of
their duty, and are gentlemen in reality as well as in
appearance."
THE BLACK SEA. FLEET.
By the last accounts from the Black Sea, dated
May 11, the fleet was still off Sebastopol: for several
days there had been a heavy fog, and they had to
keep up constant noises to prevent their running
foul of each other. The cable which is put across
the mouth of Sebastopol is described as consisting of
• number of chain cables twisted together and secured
on each side by strong masonry, and is hove taut by
capstans. From its being formed of separate chains,
it would be sufficiently strong to keep out a steamer
er any vessel going at full speed.
A Constantinople despatch of the 20th states that
several ships of the allied fleets—the Agamemnon
•nd Charlemagne amongst them—arrived off Kalla,
in the Crimea, on the 10th, and demanded the de-
livery of Russian ships, amongst them two frigates,
and upon refusal bombarded that harbour for two
days. Other accounts state that the town and
harbour of Kaffa were destroyed. And a third state-
ment is to the effect that the ships looked in at
Kaffa, found there only a few " popguns," and no
forts or anything worth fighting, and then sailed off
in search of nobler game.
Advices from Malta of May 22 announce that •
detachment of steamers, under Sir Edmund Lyons,
viz., the Highflyer, the Retribution, the Niger, the
Sampson, and the Firebrand, left the fleet oil Sebes-
topol on the sth ult. for the coast of Circassia. The
Retribution took a ship with the Hellenic flag, and
freighted with 145 Russian troops. The Higkilyer
also took another, under the same flag, with 200
Russian soldiers on board. Many of these were
wounded, showing that there had been fighting with
the Circassians.
LOSS OF THE TIGER.
Ample confirmation has now been recieved of the
catastrophe to H.M.S. Tiger. The Government
indeed appear to be the only parties concerned who
have received no intelligence of the event. Mrs.
Domville, wife of Mr. H. J. Doraville, surgeon of the
Tiger, and who is one of the prisoners, has received a
letter from her husband: it is dated Odessa, May 15.
It states that the ship struck the ground on the
morning of the 12th during a dense fog, about 150
yards from the beach, and five miles to the south of
Odessa. Every effort was made to get the ship off by
throwing some guns overboard, but without avail.
When the batteries on shore opened their fire, one
gun only could be fired in return, and that with little
or no execution. The captain and four others were
struck down with wounds, and in less than ten
minutes after the commencement of the firing the
ship was in flames in two places. Russian colours
were then hoisted, in token of surrender. The letter
further states that they were received with great
kindness by theircaptors, and the crew were as happy
as circumstances would permit. Captain Gifford 's
family have also beard from him. He was progress
ing favourably, after having undergone amputation
of his leg. He also speaks well of the Russian
treatment of the prisoners, who expected to be allowed
parol in a few days. The midshipman, a relation of
Captain Gifford's, who lost both legs in the action,
has since died of his wounds.
Some of the sixteen guns belonging to the Tiger
sank with the vessel when she blew up, but some
were conveyed as trophies to Odessa, destined pro-
bably for St. Petersburg. The Invalide Ruue states
that the flags of the Tiger bad been forwarded to St.
Petersburg by Osten-Sacken, accompanied by a letter
written in less vainglorious style than usual, an-
nouncing tho event- The Patrie states, however,
" the Russians never boarded the vessel, and come-
gnently could not gain possession of the English flag. The
Russian general sent as a trophy the flag of an English
merchant-vessel which had been detained in the port
before the bombardment, and which he represented as
being thut of the Tiger."

SATURDAY.
.-_ •

THE ANNE WALISTER.

This vessel, which obtained so much celebrity on
account of int detention at Cronstadt, anti the refusal
of the Russian authorities to allow Sir H. Seymour's
effects to be put on board her, was on the 15th per-
mitted to sail for England. She was, however, libe-
rated upon condition only of being worked home by
a neutral crew, which Mr. Evans, the commander,
had some difficulty to procure, he and hia met:
having been removed from Cronstadt, and detained
at St. Petersburg for many weeks. On being re-
leased, Mr. Evans and the crew were ordered to pro-
ceed homewards overland to Berlin by wad of
Warsaw and Myslowitz. To meet their travelling
expenses the Russian Government presented him
with one silver rouble (3s. 2d.) for himself and his
men. As Captain Evans was fortunate enough in
meeting with a countryman at Warsaw, who had
juster views of humanity, and assisted him with 201.,
lie has been enabled to preserve this identical silver
rouble to his journey's end. Even after arriving at
Berlin the worthy captain had like to have fallen into
trouble with the police, from an erroneous impression
that he might show his contumely for a Russian pass
port without fear of offence. After some words between
him and the police agent before whom he was car-
ried on arrival, his patience got exhausted; and so,
first spitting on the double eagle, and crumpling up
the paper, he cast it in the functionary's face. Phis
was a terrible offence, and a gendarme interfered,
menacing him with his weapon. Whereupon Mr.
Evans, not in the best temper in the world, jumped
back, and exclaimed, "Thrust away, my hearties!
but, by jingo, the first man that lays hands on me
I'll floor as fiat as this one rouble which the Russians
at Warsaw gave me to provide myself with on the
road, and which I'll present to the British Museum
as a curiosity !" At length the offender was libe-
rated, and stated his case to Lord Bloomfield, who
had set matters right, and done all in his power to
assist the master and his crew on their way home.
ward. One and all of the latter have no other wish
than to enter her Majesty's navy, provided they can
get a slap at the Russians. Mr. Evans has pro-
ceeded to Hamburg and Kiel, in the hopes of get-
ting to Copenhagen, so as to meet his vessel in
passing the Sound. The crew will proceed to Ham-
burg, and thence home.

The Russian prisoners taken in different prizes, and sent
from time to time on board the Crocodile, lying off the
Tower, to the number of forty, have obtained employment
in the British merchant service. _ _ .

A number of engineers, boiler-makers, &c., volunteers
from the factory at Woolwieh for service at Malta, left
Woolwich yesterday for Southampton to embark in the
Candia screw steam-ship for their destination.
The Himalaya left Queenstown on Sunday for Constan-
tinople with detachments of the Royal Artillery, 6Sth Regi-
ment, 3rd Regiment, and 7th Dragoon Guards, on board
together, with a number of horses.
The fourth detachment of the 4th (Royal Irish', Dra-
goon Guards proceeded to Kingstown on Thursday, where
they embarked for the seat of war.
The troops serving in Ireland are to exchange the Minie
rifles for percussion muskets forthwith. The rifles are to
be put into the hands of those destined for actual service.
Au electrical telegraphic apparatus, to be employed on
the field of battle, for the purposes of forwarding com-
munications of the operations of the army from one por-
tion to the other, is now nearly completed at the Woolwich
Arsenal, and will be shortly despatched to the seat of war.
Each portion is fitted in a light four-wheeled waggon,
which holds sufficient wire for a length of twelve miles.
The Cork Conatiltaion states that a naval squadron
rs
about to be formed to cruise in the Channel and around
the Irish coast.

THE SEAT OF WAR ON THE DANUBE.
Nothing positive is yet known of the siege of
Silistria. On the 28th of May the fortress was still
in the hands of the Turks, but said t, be closely
invested and very hardly pressed. Despatches re-
ceived from Schumla of the 23rd of May state that
the Russians had been repulsed four times, with
heavy loss, at Silistria. Other accounts report that a
Russian force of 60,000 men was urging on the siege
with extreme vigour, and the position of the Turks
had become most critical. Mussa Pacha had de-
stroyed all the buildings outside the fortress which
might prove of service to the enemy. He had also
caused the construction of new forts within the lines.
It was added that when all hope of further resist-
ance was gone the commandant intended to blow up
the works on the Russian side and cut his way
through to Schumla.
TURKISH ARMY IN ASIA.
Advices from Constantinople of the 18th May state
that the Ottoman corps at Kars almost entirely dis-
persed on the approach of the Russians on the stt
of that month. A part formed into guerilla bands,
the rest were sent to Erzeroum. Mr. Brandt, the
English consul, has quitted Erzeroum for Batoum.
Selim Pach a's corps was still in a satisfactory position
at the latter place.
The Russians were concentrating en army of
80,000 men at Gumri (Alexandropol).
Want of money appears to have been the principal
cause of the dissension of the Turkish troops.

JUNE 3, 1854.

Arrears of nearly 1,000,0001. sterling had accumu-
lated during seventeen months, in the course of
which period only 200,0001. had been forwarded from
Constantinople for pay and supplies.
A letter from Trebizond, dated May 5, states :

" The news of the bombardment of Odessa was received
with enthusiasm. The consuls of France, England, and
Austria hoisted their flags, and the Paella went and paid
them a visit. Souchonm•Kaleh, abandoned by the Rus-
sians, has just been occupied by the Abasiates, who took
possession of the warehouses and the merchandise they
contained, and hoisted the Turkish flag. The Russians,
to the number of 5,000 or 6,000, marched upon Redout-
Kaleh, whence it is thought they will endeavour to reach
Tiflis. They have evacuated and burnt Anapa."

The Russians, at the demand of the Turks, have
promised not to fire on the hospitals in the fortress.
The Turks are stated to have evacuated Turtukai,
Nicopolis, and Sistowa. Only the first-mentioned
island has been occupied by the Russians.
The Russians had completed a bridge for crossing
over to the bank on the Silistrian side. If Silistria
should fall Luders' corps would then form the left
wing of the corps operating against the Balkan.
News from Bucharest of the 18th says, notwith-
standing all that has been hitherto reported to the
contrary, that Little Wallachia is not entirely
evacuated, in consequence of counter orders from St.
Petersburg.
According to a letter from Constantinople, in a
Marseilles journal, Omer Pacha has officially corn
municated to Marshal SL Arnaud and General
Lord Raglan the following statement of his regular
forces :

128 battalions of infantry, each 700 strong
Four battalions of chasseurs

64 squadrons of cavalry (on an average 125 men
per squadron) ..
Artillery '224 pieces, and 4,000 men (the latter ex-
cellent troops)
2 battalions of engineers, each 000 strong

Total ...
The irregular troops were stated to consist of 13,745
infantry, not well disciplined, but robust and intrepid,
and excellent for harassing the enemy. The irre-
gular cavalry consists of 14,355 men, who are gene-
rally well mounted, and can be usefully opposed to
the Cossacks. The total of irregulars is consequently
28,100, and these, added to the regulars, make a
grand total of 132,300.
Letters from Belgrade and Widdin state that the
Austrian troops are continually coming down the
Danube, in the direction of Orsova and the Walla-
chian frontier. Very considerable forces are now con
centrated in Hungary and Transylvania.

A judicious suggestion for the treatment of the
Russian prisoners, who are accumulating in consider•
able numbers upon the hands of the commanders in
the Black Sea and Turkey, is thrown out by a corre-
spondent from the spot when writing to one of our
daily contemporaries :
" The question is what can be done with these men. To
confine them on board of prison-ships is barbarous and
unprofitable. Indeed, I can see no reason why they
should be taken to England at all. There is plenty of
work to be done in Turkey, even for the safety and com-
fort of our troops, if there were but willing hands to do it.
Roads and bridges are to be made ; entrenchments have to
be thrown up. Our army is small enough to all purposes,
and it is a pity that a large part of our available force
should be locked up in trenching. Why should not the
Russian prisoners be used for work of this sort •.' Their
condition in the Czar's service is not so enviable as to instil
into them a strong wish to rejoin their regiments, and, if
their treatment and food were only tolerable, it would in
their eyes be excellent. If kept in good order they might
be highly useful. Let those in England whom it may con-
cern think about this matter."
How Cronstadt may be taken is discussed in a
letter from an officer belonging to the Baltic fleet,
dated May 15. He says:—

" I suppose our friends in England, ' who live at home
at ease,' are much dissatisfied with us for not having
achieved anything fnrther than the capture of a few mer-
chant-ships. However, I can assure you that the admiral
is not to blame, as the ice has not yet disappeared from the
upper partof the gulf; but if it had I cannot see that we
can commence operations upon Cmnstadt until the fleet at
Helsingfors is either destroyed or disabled, otherwise we
should have it harassing oar rear, and placing us between
two fires. Again, we must wait until gun-boats arrive from
England. These must be of a very light draught of water ;
and we require also some large fiat-bottomed boats, besides
at least 2,000 soldiers, as we cannot spare 200 men to form
landing-party. Many persons consider Cronstadt to be
impregnable. This, however, is far from being the case,
and I think it might be taken with a comparatively trifling
loss. lam neither captain nor admiral, but, had I a voice
in the matter, I would say by all means silence Alexander
Fort, on the north-east part of the island, and simul-
taneously land a large body of troops in the flat-bottomed
boots, covered by the fire from the gun-boats and those yes-
eels that can venture close enough; and I believe Cronstadt
is not so well garrisoned as to spare many men to oppose
the landing. Some of the forts and batteries for the pro-
tection ofthe channel are, I understand, open on the land
aide, so that, while the fleet bombarded the forts in detail,
the troops on shore would keep up & galling fire from the