The Express.
London, England, 1856-09-23 00:00:00

THE IIXPRES3, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 28, 185 e,

THE CORONATION OF THE
EMPEROR OF RUSSIA

(/11011. 0171 01101/1.

MOSCOW. SIPT. 16.

Everyone who hu read—and who has not P—
" The Pirate" of the author of " Waverley," will
remember how that prince of jolly fellows, Magnus
Trail, determined to make merry at his daughter's
wedding—how he killed the fatted calf, mustered
the pipers and fiddlers, and summoned all his kin-
dred and friends from far and near for a whole
month's rejoicing. Bat they will also recollect that
even the primitive °medians got tired on the third
day, and that many began to yawn and languish for
a return to the normal state of tranquillity from
which they had been so pleasantly disturbed.
Just so is it with our coronation 1 festivities
in Moscow. We began with a tremendous pro-
gramme, which every one devoured in a paroxysm
of voracious anticipation ; we thought we could
see eights, and dance, and eat grand dinners to all
eternity. But now, nous awns chanyi tout seta ; the
guests are hurrying away in troops, some are enjoy-
ing the luxury of acute dyspepsia, and even the
Emperor himself has exhibited an unmistakeable
symptom of weariness in the proclamation just issued,
anticipating by five days the original date of the
"Futin du people." But, amidst all this pervading
lassitude, the British ambassador keep. steadily
to the even tenor of his hospitable way,
and greatly dines, or merrily dancer, or
courteously receives, with that unflinching pluck and
bottom which are the proud characteristics of his race
and nation. I think mentioned in a former letter
the enticipations of the St. Petersburg Engliab, that
at Moscow Lord Granville would overtake his Gallic
competitor in the festive race, and in the long run
maintain for the "Roast Beef of Old England" its tra-
ditional supremacy; and they have not been disap-
pointed. The Count de Morey has been distanced to
the race, fairly dined and danced down, and to Lord
and Lady Granville is now universally conceded the
palm for dinners, for balls, for receptions, and,

best of all, for no/egging graciousness sad
courtesy of demeanour. I do not say this in
any ungenerous spirit of depreciation towards
the French embassy, who have well and splendidly
represented both the wealth and proverbial tads of
their great country; but then the Hotel de Moray
is Bachelor's Hall, while at the British embassy the'
wives and daughters of England offer a " material
guarantee" to the wives and mothers of Ramis, and,
consequently, the latter find themselves as ash at
home there as in their own domestic circles. This,
I can assure you, is no exaggeration. The proeloelel
nobility of Russia—the great boyarda of the rich and
fertile south are primitive, almost patriareide
in their habits; their homes are their ample.,
and the warmth of affection exhibited by
the different members of a family for no
other is quite touching and refreshing tel
the English strangers. The old princeling
cluster their fair daughters about them "as the hes
gathereth her chickens under her wing,' and the
latter, while educated to the highest pitch of modem
refinement, speaking freely "the four langusges,"
and being well acquainted with English literature, in
which I am proud to say they take unseated de-
light, dancing, singing, and playing with lady-like
grace and skill, have all the freshness and modesty
of deportment that foreigners so mach admire in our
island girls. It is not to be wondered at, then, that
ladies such as I have attempted to describe find
themselves emphatically "at home" with Lady
Granville, and Lady Stafford, Lady Emily Peal,
and Lady MargeretLeveson Gower—that they should
gram the receptions, and go gladly and freely to the
balls. The second " Dana," one of the precursors of
the grand ball which the Emperor is expo:did to
honour with his presence, took place on Friday even-
ing last, and was crowded with the Russian nobility,
princes, and princesses, counts and countesses, officers
of the guards and the mills, and a most satisfactory
display of Russian youth, beauty, and fashion. The
noble host and hostess seemed quits es fresh, as
merry, and as courteous as if they had not been
dancing, dining, and receiving for the last three
weeks ore month. They chatted with the fathers
and mothers, danced with the eons sad daughters,
and, in short, sedulously and sussmetally
endeavoured to make all their game os
comfortable and happy am possible. I haps
I am not infringing on the etiquette of hospitality
by these general allusions to the festivitim at the
British embassy, but there ars so many Myna.*
flying about here, and which are eagerly sellested
and punctually transmitted to Western; Soap),
respecting our social relations with the Rusin seat
and nobiesse, that I feel bound and jutilled in
saying what I know to be true respecting the real
state of the case. Take one or two examples :
It has been generally reported here that Lord
Granville and Count de Morey, when coming
out hers, bad been respectively entrusted with
minatory notes to the Russian government,
respecting some political differences arising
out of the treaty of peace, but that while
Lord Granville had, John Bull-like, at once thrust
his note into the hand of the Emperor, Gnat
de Many had, with better tact, reserved his, and.
ea a onseqoesee, had completely monopolised the
attesting of the Russian wart. To give • Defer
like oreisoloblonee to the story, it was circumstantially
added that when Lord Granville called on Prins
Gortekakoff, the latter was "too ill to be seen," and
in tea minutes after was receiving the French ma-
boomer. Now, I have not the privileges enjoyed ►y
WPM newspaper oorrespondeots of attending cabinet
mandle, or accompanying ambawadore extraordinary
when they present diplomatic notes, but with reaped
to the first part of the above story, I think that it
aeries its refutation in its intrinsic and manifest
aheardity. To go to the coronation of the Emperor
of Esseia with a letter of oosgrattdation in one
band, aid an uncivil political note in the other,
would bee something like attending a man's wedding
and taking the favourable opportunity at the same
time of serving him with a writ. Neither can I
speak from personal knowledge of the politico-
sanatory °million of the hero of Sebastopol on the
souks referred to, but this I do know, that he was
at Lord Granville's on Friday night as jolly ry possi-
ble, that be chatted with his host and hostess is the
meet friendly manner, and had a tremendous copra-
Weeks with Mr. Johan Fans, whom he held
by the hand for ten minutes in a corner
et ll* ball is m, while he poured Into his ear
tease noloondonoly interesting story, the "authentic"
istella of which would make the fortune of an Mule-
native journalist. From the ball-room, gemmed with
wax lights, and resonant with the music of "lutes
and soft recorders," to the camp and parade ground
seems an abrupt bulletin, but the Asmodeus who
paints to fits with printer's ink so wills it, and Le
diabie &pities must go, no matter how it rains; and,
—oh ye pluvial deities!—how it did rain in Moscow
yesterday morning, when the enthusiatie remnant of
the British invasion were wending their way in sick
carriages as they could obtain, to the great Hadinka
plain, when the Emperor was to review Ms guards
and test their efficiency by the evolutions of petite
pm.. Oar Mends sore of the Tweed talk ex-
latiogly of what their skim can do in wetting an Ear 1

nehmen to the skin, but if they had been present at the
Moscow review yesterday they would forswear um-
brellas in very shame, and admit that a " Botch mist"
is Egyptian aridity as compared to a teal right-
down &Milli rainy day. D own came the steady,
pitiless, persevering deluge, as fine as if It had been
rubbed against a nutmeg-grater en route, but as
dense as the sands of the sea. Even the Cossack
hones in the carriages shook their shaggy coats, and
the Isvodstcheks looked a little damp, despite the
well-known absorbing powers of their well-worn
softens. And then the fine uniforms of the officers
and soldiers, so soaked, and draggled, and
tarnished, and the noble war horses, neigh-
ing on every side in one wild Awns of climatic'.
faction. It would not be complimentary to compare
such fine martial-looking fellows as the Russian
officers,:and who are so invariably polite to strangers.
to drowned rats, but so thoroughly soaked a set of
heroes compassionate eyes never looked upon. I
must admit that they bore it all like Spartans, and
both officers sod men chatted, talked, and smoked
while they waited for the Emperor, as if it were a
pleasant day in May. The spectators were few in
number, although it was a grand field day with the
Emperor on the ground, and consisted almost exclu-
sively of Englishmen and mnjiks of a military turn of
mind. The parade-ground, in a corner of which the
camp for 120,000 men is situated, is a plain of about
the size of a German principality, having one end
impinging on the gardens of Petroffky Palace, and
the other bounded by a wood, behind which is a
gentle eminence, the sits of a new station for the
railway. About this point the sham battle was
fought, one-half the army defending, while the
other attempted to take the position. The Emperor,
attended by what on a fine day would have been a
most brilliant staff, and such members of the various
embassies as did not mind being wet to the skin.
rode up and down at intervals between the hos.
tile armies, and critically watched the per-
formance of each successive evolution. It is to
he hoped that his Imperial Majesty understood them
better than certain of the spectators, for (only for this
once) I must waive the omniscience of journalism, and
confess that my particular comprehension of the order
of battle tended slightly in the direction of the ob-
scure. The Cossacks obliged us to dismount at a dis-
tance of about two miles from the field, which was
soft as pap,and adhesive as glue; the rain came down
in torrents, and so dense was the atmosphere that we
could not see the hostile armies, although the frequent
reports and hollow rumbling of the artillery an-
nounced that they were close at hand. After a
sore pilgrimage, we at last came to a ris-
ing ground, the rain suddenly mend, and
a sight bard on oar view that repaid us
for all our previous annoyances. There stood, in
battle array, the whole of the famous Imperial
Guard, dotted over the plain in huge human pa-
rallelograms or glistening squadrons, the bayonets
of the infantry in long regular rows sparkling like a
diamond necklace, and the varied uniforms of the
cavalry glowing like the costumes of some great state
pageant. There were the guards o Aeon! white, and
gold burnished enhance, and all mounted on
splendid chesnut horses. Then there were the Hos-
ears, scarlet and gold, or blue and silver, the regi-
ment of Paul, with their quaint old-fashioned
osoical caps, the grenadiers, the Cossacks
of the Doo, the favourite " Fiolanske" regi-
ment, and Bully, the artillery in immense
force, each gun drawn by trains of unusual
size and power. Soon all these muses began
to move, each with the regularity of some vast ma-
chine, the artillery opened fire, the musketry rolled
and rattled, the *Moore galloped two and fro, and I
tear swore a little, and the battle was soon at its
height. The position, to judge from the loudness of
the report, and the prevalence of the smoke,
was most resolutely defended, but with what
vicissitudes of torten, I am unable to tell,
for the tremendous firing brought down
the rain again, and the great object with
the spectators was to get into shelter as soon u pos-
sible. We accordingly, in the simplicity of our
hearts, rushed to the wood; but very soon found, to
our surprise, that we were in the very centre of the
battle. The holders of the eminence had valorously
repelled their assailants, and were now driving them
pelt null before them into the plain. Oar harbour of
refuge become the some of a desperate hand-to-band
contest, in which the soldiers charged or resisted,
rushed about, and Bred totally regardless of the
ones of travellers or the convenience of special
eserespondents. Pop, pop! Bang, bang! Gan-
wadding flying about in showers, and an
odour of " that villainous saltpetre " of
the most smothering intensity ! To our im-
mense satisfaction, the bill forces, after a san-
guinary struggle, at length cleared the wood, the
assailants were driven into the plain and thoroughly
defeated, and trumpet signals informed no that the
sham battle was over, and that the poor soldiers
might go home to dinner and dry clothes. Bo ended
the great Battle of Eadinka, the men cheering
lustily for the Emperor, and the conquering army
celebrating their victory according to Realm cus-
tom with songs of triumph, MI of wild, warlike
melody and national character.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

AND BRITIAN mIowL)

(PROM 00Z OWN COZINSPONDINI.)
_ PARIS, TUMIDLY MORNING.

1 Au article in the kroniteur of this morning nye
that the raising of rents, accompanied by dear.
ness of provisions, bee awakened the solicitude of
the Bower. The same article observes that 1,665
houses have been demolished, and 8,552 built, since
1852 ; that the dwellings of operatives are, and will
be still further, increased in number ; and that the
oonstruction of Dew buildings gives employment, to a
multitude of workmen, and increases their wages, so
as to compensate them for their temporary suffering.
It is added that the diminution of rents will naturally
take place in the coarse of time.

The Three per Cent& cloned yesterday at 70fr.
for the end of the month; the Four-and a-Half per
Cents. at 92fr.; and the New Loan at 70fr.; Orleans
Railway shares, 1,3500; Great Northern, 980 fr.;
Strasburg, 912 fr. 150 e.; new shame, 8300.; Paris and
Lyons, 1,331 fr.; Lyons and Mediterranean, 1,800 k.;
Western of France, 9330. 75c.; Bordeaux and Cate,
7250. • Great Central of France, 662 fr. 50c.; Lyons
and Genera, 780 k; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 1,677 fr.
50c. Austrian Railways, 8550.

PARIS, YoxDAT.

Our intelligence from Spain again exhibits the in-
secure tenure by which O'Donnell holds °Moe. Ac-
cording to a conespondenos from Madrid, published
in the Debate,• the minister has lately found himself
in a position to offer his resignation. The Queen
did not think proper at the time to accept it; but
the minister whose propositions O'Donnell sup-
ported on that areasion has since had actually to
retire. The following private telegraphic despatch
hubs= received:

Madrid, Sept. 21.—The Gauge* publishes a decree
acceptiog the mignstioa of M. Canter% and naming
to the dike of Minister of Finanose M. Balaton*

Direetor-General of Fateaoes. A severs esseptoene
had takes plea on the 9th between the pains of
Melilla and the Moon of the mire% to which the

latter had suffered a serious loam. The Spanish troops I
had 19 killed and 70 wounded. A melancholy acci-
dent has just occurred on the Aranjuez Railway, by
which Ave persons have lost their lives."
The speedy return of Narvaez to Spain can now
hardly be deemed doubtful. The Madrid journals
of the 17th express this expectation. The Novedades
says :—" An authorisation was yesterday, after the
promulgation of the Constitution, sent to Marshal
Serrano to deliver to the Duke de Valencia (Narvaez)
his passports, if be should demand them." The
Nation also announces that the duke would soon
return to Madrid.

The Monileur of this morning contains the follow
Mg news of the court .

BIARRITZ, SEPT. 21.
The Emperor and Emprees!went yesterday to Baint-Jean-
de.Lus. Their Idejestits, notwithstanding the bad weather,
went to us the dyke of that small interesting town, a part
of which, unfortutatisly, has been already swept away by
the sea. The Emperor gave I,ooof. to the mayor for the
bureau of charity, Low, to the naval commissioner for the
widows asuman, and 6,000 f. to the core, for repairing the
church.

A Council of Ministers assembled on Saturday at
the hotel of the Moister of Justice.

Prince Jerome left Havre with all his suite on
Saturday by the twelve o'clock train, and on arriving
at Paris proceeded at once to his apartments at the
Pattie Royal.
By a decree of the Minister of Public Worship,
M. Armband, avocet, has been appointed his chef du
cabinet, in the room of M. Charles Fortoul, appointed
to other functions.