The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-15 00:00:00

ten."

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1855.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

(From the Times of this day.)

Scarcely sixty years have elapsed since the aspiring I
rulers of the Prussian Monarchy viewed with well-
founded suspicion and alarm the influence which the
Empress Catherine was labouring to extend over the
continent of Europe. The partition of Poland, the failure
of Prussia in her two great strnggles with the revolu-
tionary armies of France, and the ascendancy acquired
by Alexander in the campaign of 1813,,as well as in the
subsequent negotiations„ gave to Russia what she had
long been seeking to obtain, and from that time may be
traced the progressive decline of the independence of the
Prussian' Crown. The result of those systematic ma-
noeuvres is now before us. In the greatest crisis of Eu-
ropean affairs which has occurred for forty years Prussia
alone refuses to take a part. 'The system she actually
pursueS is one she dares not avow, for it is precisely that
which Russia prescribed to her under the title of a
" friendly neutrality • "' and, the principles to which, in
common with the Western Powers, she has given her
.for Mal assent, have in no degree proved binding on her
conduct. The progress of events continues to render this
position of Prussia more and more precarious; for on the
one hand„if the war continues, it must soon extend to the
German Powers, and challenge her ce-operation or "her
hostility ; and, on the other, it' the negotiations for peace
now about to open at Vienna lead to any satisfactory
results,• the King of Prussia betrays the greatest irrita-
tion and annoyance at finding himself excluded from
conferences in which he once hoped to play an influential
part.
To ckable the Prussian Government to meet or to
estada—Rese difficulties, and to retain its position in
Europe without forfeiting its alliance with Russitior in-
earring the resentment of the. Czar, several expedients
have been resorted to. M. von Usedom was despatched
to-this country on a personal mission from the King,
to announce the consent of that Sovereign to enter into
engagements with England and France similar to those
contracted with Austria, and to place a Prussian corps
d'arm6e on the eastern frontier, provided the Western
Powers would engage not to cause their troops to enter
Germany, or to attempt the reconstitution of Poland
by revolutionary means. At a more recent period
M. von Wedell has been despatched to Paris with
proposals of a somewhat similar character. He
has been received there with cold civility, and
the French Government have shown no eagerness to
close with these overtures ; perhaps, indeed, they feel
none, and are not altogether sorry to see the Prussian
Government deprived of the support of its two natural
Allies—England and Austria. However this may be,
it is certain that none of the Allied 6ourta will be in-
duced to consent to the return of Prussia to her former
position in the conferences of Europe until she has for-
mally accepted engagements fully equivalent to those on
which the other Powers are &ready acting, both as to
the objects of the present contest and the means of ob-
taining them. The mere adhesion of Prussia to the
treaty Of the 2d of December, which would at the time
have been of considerable advantage to Europe, is now
A matter of comparative indifference, for that treaty had
an eventual rather than a positive character, and the ne-
gotiations of the three Allied. Courts have considerably
advanced since it was signed. Their military commis-
sioners are engaged, both at Paris • and at Vienna, in
determining the nature of their military operations in
the event of the failure of the negotiations about to com-
mence at Vienna, and no engagement of Prussia would
be of material value at the present time which
did not secure her active co-operation on the
side of the Allies, in the event of a continuance of the
war. She may possibly be the more ready to give that
required promise, inasmuch as she professes to have un-
bounded confidence in the desire of the Emperor Ni-
cholas to accept the conditions of the Allies ; and she
may, at any rate, be assured that her voice will not be
heard again in any of the great diplomatic transactions
of Europe on any other terms. The Western Powers
would probably consent to conclude with Prussia sepa-
rate treaties of alliance to gratify the wishes of the
King, provided those treaties irrevocably bound the
Prussian Government to the same course of active policy
as Austria and themselves. We have some reason to
hope that a scheme of this nature is at this very time
under the consideration of the Cabinet of Berlin, which
must perceive that its decision is in the highest degree
critical. Another week of hesitation, or another cabal
of the Court party at Berlin, may cut off all retreat, and
leave the King of Prussia entirely out of those combina-
tions which must poWerfally affect not only the state of
the East, but the balance of power in Europe.
It must not be supposed at Berlin that, whatever may
be the traditional feelings of sympathy in this country,
towards the chief Protestant State of Northern Ger-
-many, these considerations would have the slightest
effect on any-British statesmen at the present time.
The feeling of this country towards the Prussian Go-
vernment-is more nearly akin to what it was when-that
Government perpetrated the annexation of Hanover, in
obeeteetee to the injunctions of Napoleon ; fir we cannot
hut regard the equivocal conduct of the Prussian Minis-
tsre as one of the chief causes of the war, and one of the
circumstances most likely to extend and prolong its evils.
It is probable that Lord John Russell, in proceeding as
British Plenipotentiary to Vienna, will perform his jour-
ney by way both of Paris and of Berlin, to place those
Courts in full possession of the latest views of the
British Cabinet, and all uncertainty will be removed
from the mind of the King of Prussia by so autho-
ntetive a communication from this country. The
present position of affairs presents in more than
one point a striking analogy to our relations with
Prussia in 1796, just after she had withdrawn from
the contest with France by the treaty of Basle, and
subsided fur ten years into that ignoble neutrality from
which she was roused by the -,cannon of Jena. At that
time the Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Hammond, the
grandfather, we believe, of the gentleman now filling the
same office, was despatched by Mr. Pitt to Berlin to
endeavour to induce the King of Prussia to assume at
least an attitude of armed neutrality, in order to join his
efforts to our own in favour of the restoration of peace.
Haugwitz, the Pruss an Minister, rejected these pro
posale, because, he said, if Prussia took up arms she
would be inevitably led to side with one of the bellige-
rents against the other ; and Mr. Hammond proceeded
to Vienna, says the historian of that period, " with a
conviction that nothing could change the dispositions of
the Court of Prussia, as long as Haugwitz and his
secretary, Lombard, supported by a powerful party
in the State, enjoyed the confidence of the King." The
coincidence is so exact that one may fancy Haugwitz
and Lombard to be still in power.
'These communications must, however, have the ad-
vantage of bringing the conduct of the Court of Berlin
to a decisive test. The mission of Lord John Russell
will satisfy all Europe that the Western Powers enter
with earnestness and sincerity on these neetiations,
and a few 'days will decide whether Prussia is to take
part in them or not, it being distinctly established that
no Power does take part in them which is not fully pre-
paredthsi failure.
rto brave
al
course phazardsnrs
ned ohfywtahre in
xtihneg eventin thoi
this
emergency will determine, for the rest of his reign,
whether he is to be the vassal of Russia or the head of
Thelthe
North Germany and the ally of England—whether he
will connive at the prolongation of a horrible and
iniquitous war on the part of Russia, or combine with
all the other Powers for the restoration of an honourable
peace.

(From the Morning Post of this day.)
The eager expectation with which the public awaits
the action of the Administration which has just been in-
stalled in office is already, in a certain degree, satisfied
by the first act of Lord Palmerston's Cabinet. The ap-
pointment of Lord John Russell as English Plenipoten-
tiary at the Congress of Vienna may be regarded as the
most striking proof of the vigour, earnestness, and sin-
cerity with which we are ready to consider any sincere
projects for settlement of the difficulties which distract
Europe. It is, perhaps, more apparently than really
singular that the first act of the Statesman whom the
popular voice of his country has summoned by acclama-
tion to conduct the war is a great attempt at the imme-
diate achievement of peace.
The meeting of Plenipotentiaries at Vienna is ne
piece of jugglery—no empty parade of diplomatic for-
malities, but will rather assume the character of a
solemn assembling of great statesmen charged with mis-
sions of vital character ; and from the result of their
negotiations must issue peace or war of a far more for-
midable nature than has yet been really contemplated.
The mission of Lord John Russell on such an occa-
sion is no slight to Lord Westmoreland. At the Congress
(.)f Vienna England was represented by no less than four
Plenipotentiaries—namely, Lord Castlereagh, the Duke
of Wellington, Lord -Clancarty, and Lord Stewart.
France had also four Plenipotentiaries, Russia three,
and in like manner the other Powers were represented.
There is nothing, therefore, new in deputing more than
one, diplomatist on such an occasion.

Mie believe that it is not unlikely that Russia and
France will also send special statesmen to watch over
their interests ; and it is understood that M. Titoff,
well known for many years as Russian Ambassador at
Constantinople, will most likely be commissioned by the
Czarto act with Prince Gortschakoff on his part. M. Titoff
is a elan of great experience, and has a reputation for
sagacity, which, nevertheless, has not rendered him so
unp spular as to be generally called cunning.
Lerd John Russell starts at once with the necessary
siaff on his important journey. It is expected that the
noble lord will leave London on Saturday for Paris,
where lie will, no doubt, have inivortant interviews with
the Emperor of the French and M_ Brouyn de l'Huys.
With vskatever rapidity, however, the noble lord may
procecd-on his journey, it is impossible not to remark
that, Perlin lying directly on his rt )ad, he will probably
take. the opportunity of seeking interviews at the
Court of Berlin, of which no one who considers the
highly impressionable nature of itn policy can under-
rate the importance.
The Congress, it may not unreasonably be expected,
will open in less than a fortnight- Austria, France,
England, and Turkey will be; with Russia, the Powers
represented thereat. Prussia can xinly enter upon one
condition, viz., that of signing a tr eaty such as England
and France require from her. W ;la regard to prospects
of a settlement, no one can say hog v far the drain upon
ho population, which is the wealth's of his empire, the

depreciation of his currency by tie issue of paper money,
redeemable three years after the re-establishment of
peace (a measure, by the way, which creates a peace
party, for every holder of such paper must look anxiously
for the period of its redemption), may affect the determi-
nation of the Emperor of Russia, when combined with
the threatening prospect of a war with the greater part
of Europe. The Emperor has dared much : timo only
can show if he will dare more. _ _

The result of this Congress depends upon the will of
the Emperor of Russia. If he h as sincere in his desire
for peace as we are, then a happy pacification will be tho
result, and treaties will be sigited which will in every
respect guarantee the OttomatrEmpire, restrain Russia
for the future, and satisfy our interests and our honour.

(From the Morning Chrdnicle of this day. )
We are indebted to a well-informed correspondent for
an interesting communication, Which we publish in our
columns of to-day, on the tendency of the grasping po-
licy of Russia to continue her encroachments upon the
possessions of her weaker neighbours in the North.
Sweden has already _experienced the consequence of
insatiable thirst for dominion displayed by her ra-
ptoious neighbour, and by the loss of the province
of Finland and through the 'overbearing influence of
Russia, that once powerful kingdom had sunk before the
commencement of this war into the vassalage of the
Court of St. Petersburg. The Czar has ever cast a long-
ing eye upon the Atlantic coast of Norway, not so much
for the mere territorial acquisition, as from the immense
advantages that would accrue to his navy by the pos-
session of so valuable a coast, with its maritime popula-
tion. The coast of Norway, and especially the Varanger
Fjord, would afford to Russia spacious harbours, ever
free from the thraldom of ice, ,fer hei, navy, and above
30,000 of the finest sailors in the world wherewith to
replace her present inferior mariners. The present
hostilities have checked for the moment any am-
bitious designs on the part of Russia, and the energies
of that Power will bo taxed to preserve her present
ill-gotten possessions in the Baltic. The war once
concluded, the ruling passion of the St. Petersburg
Government will again lead to a return of its aicient
views upon the Norwegian coast. It therefore behoves
the Aliied Powers to take into consideration, when the
sincere conferences for peace shall have commenced, the
undue influence which bas hitherto weighed down the
northern kingdoms to the prejudice of their national
development. The peace of Europe is no less threatened
by the terrorism of Russia in the North than by her
preponderance of power in the Black Sea.
The neutrality hitherto maintained by Sweden and
her sister kingdom has certainly resulted in a great
measure to the benefit of the Czar. Through the Swedish
provinces bordering on Finland articles most necessary
to Russia have been doubtless freely transported over
the frontier. In the probable extension on which the
war threatens to enter, it is every day becoming more
palpable that a position of neutrality is impracticable,
and doubtless before the spring the Cabinet of Stock-
holm will discover the necessity of deferring to the
wishes of the nation, and will enter into an al-
liance, worthy of the old fame of Sweden, with
the Western Powers. The predilections evinced
by monarch of Sweden and Norway for
the c.. 'he Czar is undeniable, and the late con-
tinued %. of autographic letters between Oscar
and the I -'russia confirms us in this opinion.
The neutr. hitherto by Sweden has been,

we repeat, sided, although doubtless it has
proved most o the trading interests of the
Scandinavian 'hat gallant people sympathises
heartily with t, ..ase for which Great Britain and
France are in a: ..nd it is, we believe, the Court of
Sweden alone t views the 'Russian Emperor other-
wise than in an . ostile light.

The peculiar position of King Oscar will, however,
finally induce that monarch to sacrifice all personal sen-
timents to the interest of the noble people over whoid'he
reigns. The Rouse of Bernadotte can scarcely lay claim
to the divine right of kings,and owes its high position, not
to any hereditary right, but entirely to the tacit admission
of the great European Powers. Any opposition to the inte-
rests of Austria, France, and Great Britain Would cer-
tainly tend to neutralise the effe4 of that recognition by
those countries. We do not doubt that the illustrious
example offered by the Sardinian Government will be
met with due consideration by the other secondary
Powers of Europe, and that the Scandinavian kingdom
will recognise the opportunity of asserting its dignity as
a nation by avenging past insults and recovering its
despoiled provinces. The magnitude of the approaching
contest will in time demand the cessation of neutrality
enjoyed so fir by many of the secondary Powers of
Europe, to the prejudice of the Western Powers. The
struggle in which we are engaged requires the utmost
strength that the civilisation of Ehrope can put forth—
not to resist the aggressive arms of the Czar, but to
secure a lasting peace to the world by depriving Russia;
of the power of further evil. In no spot is the
Northern Empire more vulnerable than in the provirioes
of the Baltic, where the iron despotisui of the Conqueror
has never
,ceased to be felt. ln the fine province of
Finland the population'ivotild esaxjAii enthusiasm the
presence of the enemies of Iftusiia."':The golden oppor—
tunity that offers itself to the smaller- Powers of the
North to emancipate themselves from the oppressive in-
fluenpo of the Czar will perhaps never return, and to
hesitate at the present moment would be, on the part of
the Sovereign of Sneden, treason to his country.
We are united by no common bon.ds to the Swedish
and Norwegian natit,ns. The ties of kindred, religion,
and the honest love of libeity, aro not forgotten, and
right willingly would those two glorious nationalities join
in the coalition which is preparing against the selfish bar-
barism of the North. The time is not far distant, we trust,
when, united with the Western Powers, the descendants of
the men who fought under Charles Xll.and Gustavus will
renew the heroism of their ance,tors. Should the three
great Powers hesitate in cultivating the active alliance
of the Scandinavian kingdom, it would be a subject ever
to be deplored. The active co-operation of Sweden, sup-
ported by a strong allied army, would prove a death-
blow to the preponderance of the Czar in the Baltic pro-
vinces. If secured by a just treaty against the future
retaliation minor objections might doubtless
be smoothed of
over, and nd Sweden would be enabled to
render active assistance in the approaching campaign.
The military resources of that kingdom would permit the
disposal of an army of 25,000 bayonets that could act in
common with a French forcenn Russian territory. The
disposition of the Swedish army is excellent, and the
general condition and discipline Jt tbetroops unequalled.
Several recent changes in the army have increased its
efficiency. All the old officers have been placed in
retreat, and a general promotion has taken place
amongst the subalterns. 'rho naval forces of
Sweden and Norway would be enabled to render
valuable assistance to any operations that may be under•
taken by the British fleet in the Baitio. Experience has
taught us that in the narrow shoals of that sea our lags
men-of-war and monster steamers are next to useless.
The fleet of gun-boats posseised by Sweden would they
be invaluable. According to the letter of our corre-
spondent, Norway alone has 120 of these admirable
boats, 80 of which are armed each with two 601 b.
howitzers, whilst the sister kingdom possesses 250 gun-
boats of similar construction. The fame of the Nor-
wegian seamen descends from antiquity, and has never
lost its primitive lustre. Several mouths must still
elapse before naval and military operations can be under-
taken in the Baltic ; but when that moment shall have
arrived it will witness, we trust, the active union with
the Western Powers of the kingdom of Sweden.

The following is the letter alluded to above :
Sir,—The present war with Russia will not have been
without its lesson if it has only served to disclose the
great extent of the Russian navy and naval establish-
ments. Few of us had previously heard of those upon
the east coast of Asia, or the number and power of the
Emperor's fleets in the Black Sea, the Baltic, and the
White Sea. Considering the extent of those fleets, and
of his naval resources, it is obvious that Russia only
needs seamen, and an ocean line of coast in Europe,
unfrozen at all seasons of the year, to become at once a
great maritime power. The possession of Norway would
give Russia the seamen and the °oast she needs. The
vast sums expended by the Russian Government upon
its fleets and naval establishments prove the importance
it attaches to maritime power ; and the aggressive cha-
racter of the nation- affords a sufficient warning to all
others from the danger whiCh must arise to them if due
checks be not placed upon the ulterior designs of Russia.
With this view, I am anxious again to call your atten-
tion to the aggressive designs of the Czar upon Norway,
as evidenced by his attempts to obtain a footing upon the
Norwegian coast in the Varanger Fjord, on the east of
the North Cape. In a previous letter
joenett'sowmheicohf appeared
pe:eadnitiai g which the
Morninjich would Chronicle, I pointed '
ould result to Russia
ifobtainatrpoan
jer F
ford, inas-
muchn of s
Nor.
.
way, she
o a rn o
y to the ocean
at all seasons of the year, its ample harbours never being
shoulds
ev e
that evergfratnhbd ee
fjord a llow
much-coveted
affords
ffo trods
a vh highway
wa_
frozen. I also noticed the treacherous designs and pro-
ceedings of the Russian Government in their attempts to
carry their object of obtaining a footing upon the Norwe-
gian coast, and the great increase in population, produe-
,
tions, and commerce of Norway, which has resulted
from the acquisition of her independence in 1814. A
brighter example of the effects of freedom, industry, and
constitutional government does not exist. In a former
exposed the whole of the Russian treaties and proceed-
ings bearing upon the Czar's designs as to the Norwegian
troPpeelnl yieolguen also
in( ) a
mostloi' g communication from
:vbich :vas elearly and admirably
coast. On other occasions you have also called public
attention to these designs,by your leading articles.
The siege of Sebastepa and Russian aggression in
Turkey are of such absorbing interest at the present time
that there is much ealger of Russian designs upon Nor-
way being lost sight of. It cannot be too widely known
that the possession of Norway is of vital importance to
Russia, and the more so now that her maritime supre-
macy in the Black See is effectually crusliefffor the pre-
sent.
The articles which have appeared against Norway
during the last year in a few of the leading journals of
France, Germany, and Holland, prove that Russian
agents are already at work endeavouring to sow distrust
in the minds of the Swedish and Norwegian people.
Why has this been done? It is time that this lago-like
proceeding should be exposed. The stren4th of Nor-
) 1 way and Sweden against Russia consists b sir union

as it is at present established. No one knows this
better than the Czar ; and hence his object is to weaken
them by severing that union, or creating such distrust
and animosity between the two nations as may at
least prevent their uniting against him with perfect
harmony for the recovery of Finland (that most in-
famous of Russian robberies), or at a future day of
ford him a pretext for Russian protection or interfer-
ence in any dispute which may arise between Norway
and Sweden. Woe to the unhappy country that allows
itself to become enc'reled in the deadly, snake-like coils
of Russian protection !
It being so important to Russia to obtain possession
of Norway, it follows that it is of equal importance
to England and France, as the great maritime
Powers, to prevent her doing so, and for that pur-
pose to uphold the existing union between Norway
and Sweden in all its integrity. The honour and in-
terests of the British and French people are involved
in this question to an extent that is but little appro.
ciated at present. Considering the part which England
took in establishing the existing uaien bet ween Sweden
and Norway, the maintenance of that union, and CI
constitution of Norway, are sacred obligations on the
part of the British Empire.
But nations, as well as individuals, are not free from
selfishness. While I thus call attention to our duty to
Norway and Sweden, I will, with your permission, enter
into a few more particulars, which serve to show how
amply the performance of that duty will be repaid to us
by the intimate and zealous alliance of the Norwegians
and Swedes. The alteration in our navigation laws has
occasioned a large number of Norwegian and Swedish
vessels to be annually chartered by Irritish merchants ;
and the ruin of the British shipping interests, predicted
by the opponents edifice trade, has yet to be verified ;
in truth the comme* of England has become so enor-
mously developed th the services of Swedish and Nor-
wegian vessels, for thb purposes of a portion of our
carrying traffic, hay, become of great and growing im-
portance to British merchants. From the earliest times
of modern navigation the Norwegian seamen have been
the most daring and adventurous of navigators. This
naturally results from their superiority of race, the great
extent of their ocean coast, and the heavy aeas to which
it is constantly exposed for upwards of 1,200 miles.
From childhood the Norwegian seaman is constantly in
the midst of danger, and thence his cool daring and ad-
mirable seamanship. -
in 1852 the Norwegian mercantile marine, of all
classes and sizes, comprised—
Ships. . Tonnage. Men.
4,089
653 herring ships.

25,383
to which it is estimated there may be made at the pre-
sent time an addition of at least 20 per cent. In round
numbers, the seamen employed in the mercantile marine
of Norway therefore now amount to 30,000.
For many years the•Norwegitins have besn occupied.
in erecting suitable establishments for their navy, to-
gether with the requisite fortifications for their security.
The Norwegian fleet is small, but well calculated fur the
purpose for which it is intended. At present it consists
of 18 frigates, corvettes, and schooners, armed with from
two to forty-eight guns, a large proportion of which
comprise 601 b. howitzers for shot, or percussion shells of
great power and certainty, known as " Fredericksen's."
Of the above eighteen vessels, eight are steamers.
But the arm upon which the Norwegians justly pride
themselves is their fleet of 120 gun-boats, which are
admirably adapted fur service in the fjords, as well as in
139.1 tic. They are propelled by sails and sweeps,
and draw only 2 feet 6 inches of water when fully armed
and stored. Eighty of these gun-boats are armed with
two of the formidable 601 b. howitzers I have already
described—ene forwards, the other aft. The Frede-
ricksen shells are of a peculiar and secret construction,
invented in Norway, and celebrated there for the un-
erring certainty and power with which they explode on
striking any hard substance, such as a ship's side, &c.,
as well as for their never bursting by ricochet on water.
The Swedish fleet is considerably larger than the Nor-
wegian ; in addition to its" ships and steam fleet, it in-
cludes more than 250 gun-boats of similar construction
and power to the Norwegian.
The electric telegraph is well suited to the require-
ments of Norway and Sweden, arid it is being extensively
introduced there, , By next summer Christiania as
well as Stockholm will form links of the great Euro-
pean chains of lines radiating from London and Paris.
On another occasion I will, with your permission, revert
to the interesting subject of Sweden and Norway.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The screw steam-ship Duke of Wellington, 131, Cap-
tain Gordon, steamed from the Sound into Hamoaze, at
Plymouth, on Tuesday, with topgallant yards across.
She will go into the basin dock at Keyham to-day.
The Royal George, 120, is pow all ataunt in No. 1
dry dock, Sheerness, and the last act is being performed
—viz., refitting lower and topmast amitopgallant rat-
lines.

_ The James Watt, 91, Captain George Elliot, was re-
moied out of the' Tatting basin,Having been masted, and
will go into the steam-basin dock to-morrow to have
her underwater pipes examined, &c.
The screw steam-ship Exmouth, 90, Captain Pelham,
pas completed taking in her shot and shell at Plymouth.
Her men will be paid wages in advance this day.
The Calcutta, 84, Captain Stopford, which left Ply-
mouth on Monday for. Portsmouth, put back into the
Sound on Tuesday, owing to contrary winds.
The Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, goes out of the
steam-basin dock to-day, and under the sheers, to take
in her new boilers. •

The Blenheim, 60, C..ptain Hall, is having her stern
shaft remedied in dry dock, and will be completed in a
day or two.
" All hands " on board the Hastings, 60, Captain
Caffin, the Pembroke, 60, Captain Seymour, and the
Centaur, 6, Captain Clifford, in the steam-basin, are
busy in getting them forward, and the blockships present
an appearance of much outward forwardness.
Yesterday the Nankin, 50, Captain the Hon. Keith
Stewart, sailed from Portsmouth for Plymouth, to com-
plete her crew and receive sailing orders.
The Imperieuse, 50, Captain Watson, C. 8., leaves the
steam-basin to-day, having completed her refit.
The Arrogant, 46, Captain Yelverton, has been re-
moved out of the fitting-basin, and is now ready for
Spithead again.
The Retribution, 28, paddle-frigate, Captain Tatham,
will go into the steam-basin to refit her machinery as
soon as her masts have been taken out. _ _

The screw steam-corvette Esk, 20, Captain Birch,
having bad repairs made good, went into Plymouth
Sound on Tuesday, -preparatory for sailing for the
Crimea.

The Falcon, 17, Commander Pullen, is all ataunt in
the fitting basin ; she has not received all her crew from
the Perseverance yet, and needs about 40 men to com-
plete her complement of 160.
The steam-sloop Rosamond, 6, Commander Crofton,
will he taken into the basin dock at Keyham this day to
be fumigated.
Lieutenant NATilliam Mould (1842), late serving in the
.Odin, has taken up his commission at Sheerness, and
joined the Russell, 50-gun steam-ship.
An Admiralty order has arrived at Sheerness for the
Melampus store-ship to proceed to Woolwich immedi-
ately to load provisions, &c., for Constantinople. She
will leave this day or to-morrow. She has very few sea-
men yet entered for her, and 40 seamen, with petty offi-
cers, have been lent from the Cressy to assist in navi-
gating her to Woolwich.
The complement for the crew of the Russell has been
increased to 600—viz., 500 seamen and 100 marines, in-
clusive of marine artillery.
The Dee, steam-transport, arrived at Spithead yester-
day, with portions of the steam-power of her Majesty's
new yacht.
The steam-vessel Avon, from Sheerness, arrived at
Plymouth yesterday.
The remainder of the invalid soldiers from the East,
who arrived at Plymouth in the Talavera, on the 6th
inst., were disembarked yesterday.

ARRIVAL OF RAILWAY ENGINEERS AT
CONSTANTINOPLE.

By advices received yesterday from Constantinople,
the Prince of Wales steamer, with Mr. Kellock and the
staff of the Balaklava Lai'way engineers, and the
steamers Baron von Humboldt, Wildfire, and Black
Prince, with railway plant and the corps of navvies,
had all arrived, and pagsed on to the Crimea; as also
the Anne Maclean, laden with Lord Blantyre's stores of
provisions, clothing, and comfort for the troops before
Sebastopol.