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

THE PRESS.

been disembarked, the fleet will return to Varna for
the rest of the expedition.
The first division of the fleets will convey 14,000
men belonging to the French army, and between
400 and 500 horses, with seven batteries, mounting
36 guns. The second will convey the Ottoman
army of about 10,000 men and SOO horses. The
British army, a part of which is already on board
the steamers which have come direet from Eng-
land, will also be thrown upon the coasts of the
Crimea to the number of 21,000 men and 1,000
horses, with 36 guns. Thus, the first expedi-
tionary army will land about 50,000 troops, who,
six or eight days afterwards, will be reinforced by
an additional number of from 25,000 to 30,000
French troops, and from 4,000 to 5,000 English
troops.
A letter of the 20th ult. from St. Petersburg
states that two terrible conflagrations had occurred
in that city. One broke out near the Ismailoffsky
barracks, where upwards of eighty, some say 200,
houses, and property to the extent of nearly 500,000
silver roubles, aie supposed to be destroyed, partly
insured. The other was on the Goutoueff island,
where the quantity of property destroyed is large,
but in value small, being principally bones intended
for shipment abroad.

The latest accounts from Spain speak of agitation
still going on at Salamanca, Barcelona, Saragossa,
and Galicia. Nothing serious, however, was appre-
hended.

The Duke d'Abrantes, aide-de-camp of Prince
Jerome, has just left Paris to join Prince Napoleon
in the East.

A letter from Copenhagen, of the 2d inst., says :
" The King yesterday opened in the throne-room of the
chateau of Christianborg the session of the Danish
Council of State, decreed by ordinance of the 26th of July
last. His Majesty, wearing all the insignia of royalty,
having on his right the Hereditary Prince, and on his left
the Ministers and the grand dignitaries of the Court, de-
livered a short speech, the text of which has not been pub-
lished. Ho immediately returned into his apartments,
and the Council of State proceeded to their place of sitting
in one of the royal palaces. The sittings of this Council
are secret. Count de Moltke Bregentved, ex-President of
the Council, has been named President of the Assembly."

The quarrel between the French Opera and the
newspapers is likely to be arranged. The Opera is
disposed to give two free admissions to each paper
instead of one, which was at first proposed. The
journalists, while jealous of their own privileges,
cannot but admit that the free-list aystem•had been
greatly abused. It seems that in one way or another
the gratis patrons of the Opera had swelled to the
enormous number of 700.
The lonian Parliament has beenprorogned till the
18th March, 1855.
The arrival of the Hansa steamer, en route from
New York to Bremen, furnishes us with two days'
later news from the United States, which, however,
is not important. Gold-dust to the amount of two
million dollars had reached New York from California.
Cotton was inactive at New York, Philadelphia, and
New Orleans. Yellow fever was had at Savannah.

Owing to the favourable change in the weather the
pestilence which has raged with such frightful seve•
rity in the Soho district has abated, and it may be
hoped that the inhabitants have seen the worst of
the visitation. On Thursday there were very few
deaths, and yesterday morning no new cases were
reported. All the streets in the neighbourhood of
Golden square, Soho-square, and the district between
those places and Leicester-square, have been covered
with amide of lime and zinc, a precaution which will
be taken, at the suggestion of the Board of Health,
in a►l other districts where there is reason to appre-
hend an outbreak of the disease.
A numerous meeting of the licensed victuallers was
held on Thursday afternoon in the saloon of Drury-
lane Theatre, with the object of forming an associa-
tion for the purpose of defending the licensed vic
tuallers of the metropolis against the vexatious
operation of the new Beer Act, by uniting the two
societies already formed for that purpose. The room
was crowded to excess. Mr. T. B. Simpson, of Cre-
morne•gardens, presided.
Dr. Peithman, whose intrusion into the chapel
of Buckingham Palace wo reported in the journals
a few weeks since, was sent to Hanwell, after exa-
mination before the police magistrate. By the active
interference of Mr. Perceval, son of the late Prime
Minister, and the Rev. Dr. Emerton, Principal of
Hanwell College, aided by the good feeling of some
of the Middlesex magistrates, he has been liberated,
but only upon the condition of leaving the country.
This he did last Saturday, with Mr. Perceval, who
will accompany him to Germany.
A frightful fire was raging in the woods at Cleve-
land, and the soil was burning to the depth of one
foot and a half.

SATURDA Y,

His Excellency Don Antonio Gonzalez, the new
Spanish Minister in England, has arrived in London
from Madrid. M. Gonzalez filled the post of Prime
Minister and President of the Council during the
regency of Marshal Espartero.
A MEETING of the Romanists at Birkenhead took
place a few days ago, presided over by the bishop of
the district, for the purpose of adopting measures
preparatory to the erection of a cathedral in that
township, the expense of which is to be borne by the
Earl of Shrewsbury, who has offered a grant of
15,0001. The price of the land is to be raised by
subscription by the Romanists, and at the meeting
upwards of 1,5001. was contributed.
IN a London train which arrived at Warrington a
few days since was a " lady " passenger, who called
out for a glass of water, which when the porter fur-
nished, he was offered a sovereign to take pay for it.
This he refused, and had the water flung in his face,
accompanied by an oath. The porter, observing the
carriage floor covered with sovereigns, called the
station master, but, there being no time to wait, the
poor drunken creature was looked in, and orders
given to the guard to see to her at the next station.
A handkerchief filled with sovereigns was observed
on one of the seats. Front inquiries it was found
she had just returned from the "diggings."
THE amount paid to coroners last year for holding
inquests in England and Wales was no less than
56,8801. 3s. 10d. In Middlesex alone it was
8,4581. Ils.
THE performances of a new repeating-pistol, pa-
tented by Messrs. Dean and Adams, were tested on
Tuesday at Woolwich, when 1,000 successive shots
were fired from one barrel, without cleaning, oiling,
or otherwise regulating, until the whole series was
completed, and without a single miss-fire or the
slightest derangement.
LIEUTENANT GREER left Windsor on Thursday for
his mother's residence in Ireland, where she lives on
a little freehold farm, consisting of about 100 acres,
meadow and arable. Mr. Greer now intends to
turn his sword into the ploughshare." The 46th
Regiment are in hourly expectation of the route to
march for the East.

A DIABOLICAL MURDER was committed last week
at Trowbridge, in Wiltshire. The victim was an elderly
man, named Daniel Napper, and after some dispute
was brutally assaulted by his own son, iiho had
recently returned from transportation, And so
ill-
treated that he died soon afterwards. The wife of the
murdered man was present and also struck him re-
peatedly. Both son and mother have been committed
on the capital charge.
REVOLTING DETAILS OF ANOTHAR IRISH MURDER are
recorded in the Cork Examiner of Wednesday, the
crime being perpetrated in a lane of that city. The
victim was a woman named Eliza Warner. The
murderer, a man named Cornelius Mullane, about
ten years since, NM tzlinsported for robbery, but
owing to bis good conduct his term was shortened to
a period of two or three years. He then remained
in Australia, where he realised a sum of from 5001.
to 6001. On his return some time since to Cork he
got married to the daughter of the deceased woman,
and became a dealer in old clothes. On Monday
evening he and his wife, who are both given to drink-
ing, had some quarrel, which ended in her leaving
his house, and going over to her mother's, in Vanda-
leur's-lane. Next day Mullane came to the house,
and had an altercation with his mother-in-law, on
which he got into a violent passion and drew a knife
upon her. Mrs. Warner's husband, however, inter-
fered and took the knife from him. Mullane then
went out and purchased another, a sailor's large clasp-
knife, and returned to the house in a perfectly fu-
rious state, vowing he would stab any one that would
come near him. The deceased got up and went over
to pacify him, and endeavoured to take the knife
from him, but he drew it across her hand, and nearly
cut her thumb off. He then made a rush at her, and
stabbed her three times in the abdomen, the last stab
cutting her entrails. An outcry was raised, and a
constable called in. He saw the unfortunate woman
struggling convulsively at Mullane's feet, while he
was standing over her, protesting, with oaths and
curses, that if any one came near him he would rip
him open. The constable, however, rushed at him
and caught him by the neck and hand, and suc-
ceeded in getting the knife. Mullane was then lodged
in prison. His victim died shortly afterwards.
SOME EXPERIMENTAL GUNNER? PRACTICE was going
on at Shoeburyness on Monday, when a large cannon,
a 56 pounder, weighing 93 cwt., burst on being dis-
charged. The fragments were scattered in all direc-
tions to a great distance. One massive segment was
thrown off laterally and struck successively three
sergeants, who were so terribly injured that they all
died, two almost on the spot and the third next day.
The fragment weighed more than a ton. All the
gunners engaged about the piece fortunately es-
caped unhurt, but three men employed upon another
gun were struck.

SEPTEMBER

PRINCE ALBERT AT BOULOGNE.
THE Prince Consort on Monday evening left the Isle
of Wight in the royal yacht, with a small steam
squadron in attendance, for the purpose of paying
his promised visit to the Emperor of the French at
the camp near Boulogne. Her Majesty, accompanied
by the Earl of Aberdeen, oonvoyed the Prince to the
Victoria and Albert, and having taken leave returned
to Osborne in the Fairy royal tender. When the
squadron was nearly abreast of Southsea Castle, a
signal rocket announced the Queen's adieu to her
royal husband, whereupon a shower of splendid and
coloured rockets flew high into the air from the
Victoria and Albert. The effect from the shore was
exceedingly beautiful. Her Majesty arrived back at
Osborne Palace at a quarter to ten.
The squadron meantime pursued its way, and at
an early hour on Tuesday morning came in sight of
Boulogne harbour. Orders had been given in the
town to have all ready for the reception of the Prince
at half-past nine o'clock, and great preparations were
made to give his Royal Highness a fitting reception.
Not only the Emperor but the municipality took
part in the effort to receive his Royal Highness with
fitting honours, and to entertain him worthily during
his stay.
At ten o'clock the royal yacht, carrying the tricolour
on the fore and the royal standard at the main, could
be distinctly seen from the piers. Another quarter
of an hour and she was at the entrance of the har-
bour. A salute of twenty-one guns was given by the
artillery, and three volleys fired by the infantry from
the heights. The Emperor, accompanied by two
squadrons of the Cent Guards, drove rapidly down to
the quay, and, alighting from his carriage opposite
the Custom-house, awaited the arrival of his Royal
Highness, and watched from the extreme edge of the
landing-place the approach of she royal yacht. As
the Victoria and Albert steamed slowly down the har-
bour, the Prince, who was standing on the deck, was
loudly cheered by the vast concourse of people
assembled on each side of the water. At twenty
minutes past ten the royal yacht was moored along-
side, and Prince Albert, recognising the Emperor,
took off his hat and saluted his Majesty, who grace-
fully returned the compliment- As soon as the gang-
way was made, his Royal Highness stepped hastily
ashore, the Emperor advancing to the foot of the gang-
way to meet him. A most cordial shake of the hand
was exchanged as the Emperor and the Prince stood
uncovered in each other's presence. The splendid
band of ;the Guides struck up "God save the
Queen" and " Rule Britannia," which national airs
were followed by the French national air. Loud
cheers of the English and the vivas of the French
mingled with the martial strains as the Prince, seated
on the right of the Emperor, was driven off, escorted
by a squadron of the Cent Guards, to the Imperial
Hotel. Then came a long array of military and official
personages. The Duke of Newcastle, the Minister at
War, Viscount Hardinge, Lord Seaton, and other
officers, passed on in open carriages. Afterwards fol-
lowed carriages filled with the aides-de-camp of the
Emperor and Prince Affiert, with French general
officers, officers of the Etat Major, and the personal
attendants on the Prince, each and all of whom came
in for their share of cheering and inspection by the
vast crowds assembled.
The Prince was driven in the first instance to
Capecete, where the Emperor had caused to be pre
pared for him a magnificently-furnished suite of
rooms in his own residence, the Hotel Brighton. In
the afternoon the Emperor and Prince Albert drove
over to the camp at Wimereux, where they staid some
time. Boulogne was brilliantly illuminated in the
evening.

On Wednesday the Prince was taken to St. Omer,
thirty-six miles from Boulogne, to witness some
military evolutions, the grand review being postponed
until yesterday (Friday). The Emperor and Pnnce
reached the camp at eleven o'clock a.m. Twenty-five
thousand men were assembled on the plains of
Bruyeres. The affair was arranged so suddenly, and
with so little public notice, that many English military
men who came to Boulogne expressly to see the
evolutions of the troops were unable to reach the
camp of Helfaut in time to witness the review; yet the
electric telegraph, which places the Emperor in com-
munication with every quarter of the camp, enabled
him to direct the march upon Helfaut of regiments
which were on the same morning eighteen miles
distant from the scene of operations. After visiting
some of the huts, and admiring the tasteful decora-
tions, the sculpture, and the little gardens with which
the soldiers have adorned the camp, the royal party
mounted their horses, and, without any military escort
but that furnished by the brilliant and numerous staff
which accompanied them, rode slowly to the Bruy axes,
a magnificent plateau, at a high elevation, overlook-
ing the town and churches of St. Omer. The ground
has for many years been devoted to the military
evolution of the neighbouring camp, to which it is
admirably adapted. The soil is a light sand, with a
thin but sufficient covering of herbage, and, although
the ground is, for the most part, even, there are oc-
casional irregularities in it, which render it difficult

THE PRESS.

for cavalry to charge at a gallop without considerable
derangement of their line.
Among the infantry regiments were the 4th, the
17th, the 24th, the 33rd, the 44th, and the 6llth of
the line. The Chasseurs de Vincennes in their dark
green uniform, armed with their formidable little
Minie rifle, mustered in great force, the Emperor
doubtless supposing that his illustrious visitor
would regard with peculiar interest troops destined
to play so important a part in future battle-fields,
and whose training and equipments have for years
engaged the attention of the best soldiers of France.
Several regiments of cuirassiers furnished the con-
tingent of cavalry. The rest of the troops consisted
of eight batteries of artillery, with six brass 12-
pounders in each battery, and a few companies of
engineers. The infantry having formed in two
lines, the artillery took up a position in their rear,
and behind them were the cuirassiers. The arrival
of the Emperor and Prince Albert upon the field was
announced by a salute of 21 guns. The royal party
immediately rode along the lines together in perfect
silence, orders having been given by the Emperor
that the acclamations which usually hail his arrival
among the troops should be dispensed with, out of
respect to his illustrious visitor. Having ridden
along the lines, which from their great extent oc-
cupied a long time, the Emperor and Prince drew
up in the centre of the ground, and the troops
slowly defiled before them, beginning with the
infantry and ending with the cavalry. No evolutions
were attempted by the infantry and artillery, nor
did any firing take place, the Emperor's desire being
that Pnnce Albert should have a narrow opportunity
of observing the physique of his troops, their ap-
pearance on a march (every man being in heavy
marching order, with one day's bread attached to his
knapsack), and the mounting of the cavalry and
artillery. The Prince scrutinised with au observant
eye the troops as they marched past., the Emperor
apparently directing his attention to various points
relative to the equipment and training of the several
arms of the service. The Emperor and Prince left
the ground about three o'clock, and, regaining their
carriages, returned to Boulogne. Thursday was de-
voted to the repose of the royal party, and to the
concentration of troops upon Marquise, in preparation
for the grand field-day on Friday.
Lord Cowley and M. Drouyn de Lhuys arrived
at Boulogne, and had the honour of dining with the
L Emperor and Prince Albert, on Tuesday night, at the
Imperial Hotel, with a brilliant party.

At the head of the five Guardsmen who were sent to
attend Prince Albert at Boulogne was Corporal Sutton,
who has heretofore so often given specimens of that dexterity
with the sword which enables him to cut in sunder sheep,
bars of lead, &c., at a single stroke. He astonished his
French friends by repeating some of these performances.
On Monday evening the corporal and his mates were
dining with their friends, the Cent Gerdes, at their mag-
nificent quarters, " The Chateau," and the Emperor, hear-
ing of the party, sent thirty bottles of champagne to give
the necessary vivacity to the entertainment. After dinner,
and "the usual loyal toasts," feats of arms and of martial
prowess became naturally the topic of conversation, and
Corporal Sutton volunteered to cut a bar of lead in two
with his sword. The Frenchmen were astonished at the
proposal, but much more so when they saw the deed actu-
ally done, and the strongest and most powerful of their
own body was selected to try a similar cut. But, though
strong and valorous, hehad not cut sheep in two at Saville-
house, and so, after about a dozen desperate cuts, he was
obliged to give up the task in tears and perspiration. Then
the bar was examined and a fracture was hinted, but Cor-
poral Sutton repeated the stroke, suggesting at the same
time the possibility of cutting a small-waisted man in two
in a simtlar manner. Here was the celebrated trial of skill
between Richard Ccenr de Lion and Saladin in " The Talis-
man " enacted over again by a corporal in the Life Guards
and a French heavy dragoon, and excited quite as much
interest in the spectators. The Frenchmen, although be-
having with all their usual politeness and good humour,
would evidently have been better pleased that their com-
rade had cut the bar, and a little English midshipman who
was present implored his countryman, with tears in his
eyes, not to make the second attempt if he was not quite
sure of his hand, lest the national character should be im-
perilled by the failure of Corporal Sutton, of her Britannic
Majesty's Life Guards. It is pleasing to have to add that
this little episode did not interrupt friendly communica-
tions, but that Corporal Sutton, having good-naturedly
attributed his suceess more to sleight-of-hand and practice
than strength, the Emperor's excellent champagne was
finished in the most amicable manner imaginable.

THE Standard and Globe were seized in Paris on Satur-
day last. The reasons for a seizure are never told, but in
this case it is conjectured that the police authorities took
umbrage at a statement contained in both journals setting
forth that Gauvain, the man who shot the Abbe Gay, had
been locked up in the Bicetre lunatic asylum, although the
jury had absolutely acquitted him, and although the
medical testimony adduced at the trial distinctly negatived
his insanity.
IT is mentioned as a curious fact that a farmer in Con-
necticut, who recently took up a fence after it had been
standing fourteen years, found all those posts solid which
had been inverted from the way in which they originally
grew, while those which had been set as they originally
grew were rotted off at the bottom. Heads down, there-
fore, seems a specific spinet decay.