The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-13 00:00:00

THE DESCENT AT YALTA.

ODESSA, Dac. 30.

The Russian newspaper called the Journal of
Odessa publishes extracts of a letter from a resident
at Livadia, one of the most lovely spots in the south
of the Crimea, describing the devastation of Count
Poloeki'a villa duriug the descent at Yalta. The
writer says:
Urged by a presentiment of danger, we had pocked up
and buried all the moat valuable contents of the houses.
such as silver plate, jewellery, marbles, vases, antique busts,
costly paintings, tea servitors, and lamps. We bad also pro-
♦ided for the safety of the contents of the church, leaving,
indeed, nothing but the bare walls. This, I repeat, was
extremely fcrtunate ; for, a hen the enemy came from
Yalta, they found scarcely anything to carry off. They, in
fact, only got hold of 500 measures of wine, some books from
the library, some remains of maccaroni, a few old plates and
dishes placed purposely in the cupboards, some beau chau-
&lien, plated teapots, glasses, and certain utensils which
you will mass my particularising. They made repeated
inquiries after the plate, but nobody told them where it was
to be found, although our domestics remained on the estate.
You will perhaps inquire how we came to think it necessary
to take precautions against the spoliation of the church at
Livadia. Are not our enemies, though foes, still Christians ?
Read then what is written, under date of Oct. Bth, from
the advanced posts near Eapatoria : " All the villages be-
longing to private persona in this locality have been ravaged
by the enemy. Alter a sortie from Eupatoria against Ak-
mctchet, the property of Prince Woroutanff, not only was
all the district ravaged, and the cattle carried off, but the
interior of the church was plundered, the holy images
broken or stripped, and the chief one which adorned the
altar split in many places. As for the people, young and
old, they have been beaten and otherwise maltreated at
pleasure."

ODESSA, Dsc. 24.

By the retrograde movement of the Turkish army
the Russian troops in Bessarabia seem to have felt relief, fur
some strong detachments have been sent off in forced
marches to the Crimea. We allude to the reserves formed
at Ismail, Kishenev, and Inker mann. These troops marched
through Odessa, and looked as usual, with good shoes to
their beet and thick Russian cloaks. Most of them were
armed with the old flint-muskets, had no helmets, and
cannot be looked upon as choice troops. Besides the
reserves, the remainder of the 14th Infantry Division of the
sth Corp, namoly, the Podolian and Zytomir regiments
from Ismail, was sent on to the Crimea, and both regiments
are expected here iu Orktsa on the 13th and by the 24th at
latest. The Don Cossacks are streaming in masses to the
Crimea.

It is rumoured that a scarcity of food has prevailed for
srme days past in Sebastopol. The cause of it is the rainy
weather, so adverse to all kinds of conveyance. Mercantile
leans from Constantinople that have come here by indirect
routes state that incessant reinforcements and supplies ate

sent off from that place to the seat of war. General report
gives out that on the 22nd, and not far from Odessa, more
than 360 Ruseian foot-soldiers and ecveral Jeeisb cartels
perished in a snowstorm. The castles of death were the
want of adequate warm clothing, and the sudden set in of
a frost ; and it is also said that the waggons and teams had
gone on before the men, who were thus left haind, and as
the soldiers had on wet clothes from the previous rain, they
froze into a crust of ice when the frost began. They looked
about for a bridge but could not find any. The day alter
groups of frozen dead bodies were found, and between 20
and 30 men lay in each heap.

'Ely Court.

WINDSOR, JAN. 12.

The dinner party yesterday included the Duchess
of Kent, the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn, the
Ladies Harriet and Louisa Hamilton, Viscount Torrington
Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Seth, Colonel the Hon:
C. B. Phipps, Major• General Wylde, and Mr. Gibbs.
The band of the Royal Bucks Militia played during
I dinner, and her Majesty's private band afterwards.
The Queen and Prince walked in the Home Park this
morning. . .

The ;Ord family took their accustomed exercise.
The Countess de Neuilly, the Prince and Prince's Join-
vile, and the Duchess of Cobourg visited her Majesty
to-day.
Prince Nicholas of Nassau is expected this afternoon on a
visit.

Mr. John Wood, chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, end Mr. Timm had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at hie official residence in

Earl Grauvale was present at the Cabinet Council held
at the Foreign-office on Thursday.
Viscount Palmenton left town after the Cabinet Council
on Thursday afternoon, for his seat, Broadlands, Rants.
The Earl of Clarendon left town yesterday for his seat,
the (hove, Ilerte.
Despatches from Lord Raglan, in the Crimea, were re
ceivcd yesterday at the Foreign•ofce.