The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-11 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

The Breslau Zeituray states that news had been
received at Constantinople of 20,000 Russian troops
having been attacked and entirely dispersed by
30,000 mountaineers, in a defile whilst on their
march from Daghestan to the Turkish frontier.
It has been stated that the French and English
Consuls were about to leave Bucharest and Jassy,
consequent upon the withdrawal of the Hospodars.
The latest letters from the Principalities state that
this is a mistake, the consuls not having a strictly
diplomatic character, and not being ricereilited t•'
the Prince personally, will remain at their posts as
long as they can render service to their respective
euuutries.
Letters from Bucharest announce that a number
of young Wallachiana have fed into the Carpathian

• mounains, rather thil•taid arms against the Turks
at the command of Prina Oortschakoff. Omer
Puha has supplied ;hum with arms andiammunition,
and their numbers ado increasing daily.
A letter from Oalett- of the 29th ult. states that
fears are entertained there of the approach of the
Terks, as there is no Russian garrison in the town.
There are 12,000 of the Russian troops in hospital
through tho Principalities.

- CONSTANTINOPLE, Ocr. 27.
Austria, we are told, has entered into an engage-
ment with the Porte to remain strictly neutral, on
condition of the exclusion of refugees from service in
the Turkish army.
M. de In Cour, to-day, is to have an audience with
the Sultan.

The fleets are not yet in port, in consequence of
the gale from the north; hut several line-of-battle
ships have passed the Dardanelles, and are stationed
at Gallipoli, Lampsaka, and other ports of the Hel-
lespont.
Every messenger from the camp confirms the ac-
counts already received with regard to the excellent
health and spirit of the army. Omer Dacha is the
idol of his troops. Vigilant, indefatigable, he is
seen, it is said, at times with stick in hand and
common albs on his back, sharing their toils and
simple soldiers' fare. I have heard, besides, an
anecdote which proves the extreme attention of this
officer to all the details of the service. After exer-
cise one day he summoned the officers to his tent and '
' ordered them to ascertain by a frank confession
whether there were any men in tht different divi-
sions exhibiting symptoms of fear at the approach-
ing conflict, and that in such case they must quit the
ranks or be otherwise employed. It is almost in-
credible that, amongst so many thousands of troops,
there were only six men to be found who manifested,
on inquiry, a want of courage, and they were in-
stoutly released from service. But all the efforts of
the commander-in-chief failed to protect them from
insult ; they were spit upon and hooted out of the
camp, covered with shame and ignominy.

PICTURE OF IIENCHIKOFF.

- 4. -

Menchikoff has invariably refused to sit to any
artist. lie is about 70 years of age, of middle stature, has
close cat milk white hair, a high open forehead, sharply
defined features and a bright sparkling eye. His gait is
haughty, but slightly limping, from a wound that he re.
calved in a singular manner, at the siege of Yarns, en
1823 One evening, having given some orders that he
wished to see implicitly obeyed, be strolled through the
camp ; and as ho was returning to his quarters he stopped
and remained with his legs stretched wide apart while he
enjoyed a pinch of snuff. Suddenly the report of a heavy
gun was heard, and the Prince fell headlong to the grouud.
When he was taken up it was found that a cannon ball had
passed between hie legs and wounded him severely in the
thigh.
Prince Menchikoff is ens of the most extensive landed
proprietors in the empire. and counts his serfs by thousands;
but unlike the generality of the Russian nobles, he adds
daily to his wealth. Ili, economy is without a parallel, end
indeed is stated to descend to parsimony of the lowest grade,
but however grinding his extortion in his patrimonial estate,
on all grand state occasions his appearance, carriages, and
suite me most magnificent. lie possesses a superb mansion
at St. Petersburgh; his establishment of servants and
equipage is on a scale of the most lavish expense, and he is
surrounded by numerous aids-dc-camp glittering in " bar-
baric gold and pearls."
Another striking peculiarity of this remarkable man is
the aversion he entertains for foreigners. Not one—even
en ambassador—has ever been permitted to enter his palace.
lie is both rough and tickle, and when anything offends
him becomes absolutely brutal. But while he bends to the
imperial yoke from motives of avarice or ambition, he
revenges his official servitude by browbeating, threatening
and abusing all who have the misfortune to be connected
with him ; and as he is a man of considerable talent and
indomitable energy, he succeeds most marvellously in his
amiable occupation. It is not therefore to be wondered at
that be has many enemies.

Menehikoff is married to the Princess Dolgorouki, by
whom he has a son and a daughter.— United &Ma Gazette.

CANING A PRIME MINISTER.

-~ --

His Excellency John Daniel Louis Frederick Has-
sespflug, Minister of State of the Interior and of Justice
to his Royal Highness the Elector of Hesse-Cassel, has
received a public caning before the doors of the Theatre at
Cassel, at the hands of Count Isenburg. M. Hums; flag's
name is well known in Germany, and his exploits are not
forgotten in England. How he fled from Prusia to escape
the consequences of peculation, of which he was convicted
in court ; how, after he became the fit tool o! the Elector
of Hesse-Cassel he was fain to flee by night with his mas-
ter, and returned only with Austrian and Banrian soldiers,
is well remembered by thousands of oppressed Hessians,
and by scores of magistrates, judges, mayors town coun-
cillors, and parliamentary deputies now in prison for peace-
fully protecing against his illegalities. For these crimes
he went unpunished. Now, by • retributiox not uncom•
moo, he has been made to smart for what was probably an
act of duty. His offence was having prevented the eleva-
tion of the Countess of Wachtcrsbach to the dignity of a
Hessian princess. One wholesome effect has already fol-
lowed Hassenpflug's suffering: Count beating.; had no
sooner committed the outrage than he fled to Gotha, so
that Hesse is not likely to be henceforth plagued with both
these personages at onoe.

A TURKISH IVEDDING.
--•--

A correspondent, dating Constantinople, Oct. 26,
says :—To-day are to be celebrated the nuptials of the
Grand Vizier's daughter with a son of Mailoum Bey,
locum gene= Minister of Finance. All the great func-
tionaries are invited to assist at this ceremony, and a sump-
tuous banquet of nearly 300 covers is prepared for their
reception. Marriage is no trifle in the East. Open house
is kept for several days ; al hundred persons are re-
galed with all the profusion and hospitality of the Osmanli.
A stranger entering at any hour of the day or night is im-
mediately presented with coffee, sherbet, and the ohi-
' bongos ; and if he be " peckish," as is infallibly the
ease, a tray, groaning under the weight of its contents,
all piping hot, soon follows on the head of an aims.
The Sclamlik, or men's apartment, resounds with up-
rorious mirth, with bustle and festivity. The harem is
hung with splendid cashmere shawls, and all decked out in
gaytst, gorgeous trim ; yet, strange to say, the huge night.
cap of the bridegroom, and his shaving apparatus, are
&steed, according to usage, as a prominent decoration of
the nuptial chamber. The bride in vestal garb, and veiled
in her duv.de, occupies the post of honour on the divan—
her cheeks, chin, and forehead protected by splendid
talismans from the influence of the evil eye. As
evening triw advances, at the Eshrefsaat, or pro-
pitious hour, the bridegroom enters the harem, dis-
tributing in all directions handfuls of gold and
silver coin. Having performed religiously his ablutions,
and offered up the prayers of Yatsis or the first watch, he
is then introduced by the Zenki-Kadim into the apartment
of his spouse, whom he unveils and sees for the first time,
and having taken off the talismans from her face, he places
on her turban an aigrette, the Moslem marriage pledge. A
boiled fowl is then serve! up on a silver tray, which the
bridegroom, carving in summary Turkish style, is reduced
to atoms in a twinkling; and having helped himself, and
put a morsel into the lady's mouth, the remnants are care-
fully preserved u a matter of much importance. Finally,
' after this repast, a slave enters with silver ewer and a
towel, as is usual for ablution, and then the bride in dutiful
bearing, presents her lord with coffee and the chibouque,
and both apply themselves to amorous chat and courtship.

ROBBERY OF NOTES AND WATCHES.—lnforms-
lion has been received at the various metropolitan and city
police stations, of a daring robbery which was effected on
the premi.es of Mrs. Plunkett, No. 28, Chester-square, by
the burglars breaking open the area door of an eincoy house
a few noon off, when they crossed the parapets, broke open
the attic window, and commenced packing up every valu-
able article. It is supposed that they got disturbed, but
they succeeded in taking away nine five pound notes, the
numbers of which are 13,508 to 13,417 ; two gold watches,
one made by RlCabe, No. 6,384, the other by deli, of Brus-
sels, No. 930, besides a purse containing 14 sovereigns, and
other property with which they succeeded in getting clear
off. The police are engaged in investigating the robbery.
A reward has been offered fur the apprehension of the
thieves. _ _ _

TILE CHOLERA AT Moserov.—A letter from Mos-
cow of the 22.e.d ult. static that the cholera, which broke
out in that city on the 22a.1 of January last, is now every
' day decEnielg, and, according to all appearances, will soon
have disappeared. 1.7 p to the present time the number of
eases has been 6,893, of which 3,013 have been fatal. There
hare been 3,821 cures, and 59 persons are still tinder treat-
ment.