The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-30 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

THE fate of the Crimea expedition is still in suspense. Thus far, all
the circumstances attending it have been favourable. The sea which
bore the vast armament was only ruffled by the gentlest gales, and
the splendid sun which has enabled us to house the last remnants of
our harvest in excellent condition cheered the spirits of the troops as
they neared the shores of the Crimea. The landing was unopposed,
and effected with as much order as a parade movement. The spirits
of the men were wonderfully exhilarated by the voyage and the
prospect of speedy action; and the natives of the country, lost in
wonder and admiration at the numerous and splendid host, with their
varied costumes and imposing display of arms, manifested a friendly
disposit ion, and offered their services. Nothing could be better. The
whole force has landed in excellent condition, and the only feeling in
this country can be one of surprise that what has been done now with
such ease was not effected months ago, when the allies were stronger,
and when the Russians were certainly less prepared for resistance
than they must be at present from the warnings afforded them, and
the time they have had to prepare fortifications on the land side. It
is two months since they were all but officially told that the attack
would be made, and they have employed the interval, as we learn from
many sources, in collecting troops and erecting works to sustain and
to prolong the contest.
It is stated, and with every appearance of probability, that a
Russian army was entrenched on the Katscha, the third of those four
streams which separate the spot where the allies landed from Sevas-
topol. If this be true, it is here that fighting will commence ; but it is
unlikely that the Russians will be able to concentrate a force which
can do more than retard the advance of their opponents. Their game
is delay; and the question is, whether, with the force at their command,
and the positions they have occupied, they may not he able to protract
operations beyond the time when the season will allow of their being
carried on.
The spot where the main body landed is about thirty miles north
from Sevastopol. That distance may present some defensible posi-
tions, but certainly does not oppose any considerable difficulties to
the advance of an army. Should the Russians resist, fight, and fall
back in good order, the first operations of the allies may be unattended
with decisive results. The real struggle will probably be before the
fortress itself. A time so full of anxious expectation this generation
has never known. The enterprise thus successfully begun will surely
not be abandoned without desperate efforts to accomplish its object;
nor is it to be supposed that the Russians will yield their great
fortress, their fleet, and their army, without some fierce fighting. No
half result is likely—scarcely possible. The event must be success or
failure.
On the Danube the Turkish forces are about to resume activity by
attacking the Russian fortress of Ismail. Lord RAGLAN, it is said, has
called for this movement to prevent reinforcements from being sent to
the Crimea. If the fact be so, it would seem that a speedy termina-
tion of the contest in the Crimea is not expected. The despatch of
reinforcements from Marseilles and from our own shores points to the
same conclusion. The gallant Scots Greys are now on their way to
the theatre of war.

In the Baltic it is reported that some work will yet be attempted
before the season closes. An impression prevails that despatches
have been sent out to Sir CHARLES NAPIER which may have the effect
of bringing his fleet into action, and Revel is indicated as the most
probable point of attack.
Despatches from the ships sent to the White Sea to the com-
mencement of September have been received at the Admiralty. Kola,
the capital of Russian Lapland—a proof of the wide range of hostile
operations—has been destroyed by the Miranda, which, through the
great skill and perseverance of her commander, Captain LYONS, was
brought up, through a most difficult navigation, to a position in front
of the town. He demanded the surrender of the Russian troops and
the destruction of the defences, and, his conditions not being complied
with, he opened fire on the fortifications and town, an interval having
been allowed for the retirement of the women and children. The
whole place was completely destroyed, and without the loss of a single
man in the Miranda.
A pleasing instance is related of the exchange of civilities in the
Baltic between the commander of one of our small steamers and the
Governor of Abo. The Alban was conveying twenty-five wounded
prisoners, nine officers among them, to Abo, when she got aground,
and sent to the Governor with a flag of truce for assistance. Before
the assistance could arrive the vessel was got off, and the wounded
prisoners were safely landed. Subsequently a cutter was sent off
from Abo to the Alban with a goodly store of fresh provisions, and
a cask of madeira, which the Commander-in-Chief at Abo begged
the captain of the Alban to accept, as he understood from the wounded
officers that they had " polished off" the ship's stock of sherry.

The rebellion in China seems lately to have taken a new start.
Canton was invested by the insurgents, and many of the inhabitants
were leaving in alarm. Some curious details are given in the last ac-
counts respecting the insurgent leaders. Their notions of Chris-
tianity seem to be deplorably mixed up with old superstitions. One
of them pretends that he is possessed at certain times by the Heavenly
Father, and is commissioned to deliver His commands ; and another
declares that he is the " Comforter, even the Holy Ghost," which style
he appends to his name in all proclamations, and requires that it shall
be included in tis 6 doxology which is addressed to the Heavenly Father
morning and evening.

• • 'IS.

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