The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-31 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

La Presse of yesterday evening has a letter from
St. Petersburg in which we find the following pas-
sages :

ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 10.—Things are going on
badly ; the political atmosphere is desperately
heavy, and we may say now more than ever that
there is " something in the air." We no longer
refrain from speaking of events, and looking at
them in their gloomiest aspect. Notwithstanding,
the presence of the court, which did not accom-
pany the Emperor on his excursion, we dread no
longer the eyes of the Galakhoff company, or the
ears of the Dobbelts and the Orloffs.
The scandalous affair about the Baron of Rosen
and Prince Dadian opened the late Czar's eyes to
the immense administrative and military depreda-
tiors, which surpassed all that the imagination can
conceive in the way of scandalous extortion, and
that, too, in a country where these tradi'donal
vices are inherent in the habits 'of public life.
The Emperor inflicted a blow on the guilty, who
committed the error of allowing themselves to be
caught in the act, and of going too far. But abuses
of this sort have not been extirpated on that ac-
count. On the contrary, the following is an in-
stance that induces every one to believe that they
have never ceased to prevail.
In the returns of the Russian army there had
always figured the equipment, pay, munitions, and
supplies for a force of 18,000 men, a so-called divi-
sion of reserve, which ought to consist of one or
two companies from each regiment serving in the
Great Caucasus. This division was employed in
keeping the outposts among the mountains. They
made a great fuss about the little forts built or
building for it, and which were garrisoned by small
detachments from the main body in conformity with
the regulations. One day General Woronzoff, the
Emperor's Viceroy in the Caucasus, set out with a
princely suite for the purpose of inspecting these
18,000 men.
He reached a village and commanded a superior
officer to order the detachments of the division to
assemble for the purpose of being reviewed. He
was told in reply that all the forts were situated
in'the mountains at considerable distances in spots
diffieult of access, and that three weeks would at
least be requisite for collecting these troops.
General Woronzoff could get no accommodation at
all in the village where he had stopped, and, not
wishing to inflict on himself a prolonged fast, he
retraced his steps without pressing the point any
further.

Whoa the campaign in Asia was ordered by the
Emperor Nicholas, General Mouravieff, seeing this
contingent of 18,000 men figure on the army list,
took it also into his head to go and ascertain the
state 01 Loeb. tiuuFo. mcs, anf n fnr
nF
the mountains, but he took very good care not to
have a whole court in his train, as his predecessor
had ; only one aide- de-camp went with him.
Having come to a village, General Mouravieff sent
for the colonel, and mentioned to bim his wish to in-
spect the divisior. The latter declared to him that,
considering the difficulties of the ground, it would
take a good month before he could inspect any-
thing. " What does that matter," replied the
general, " I will wait."
Now, from the inspection that he made with his
accustomed activity, the Commander-in-Chief of
the army in Asia arrived at the conclusion that the
forts had never been built, and that the men only
existed on paper ! Consequently for the 25 or 30
years that war had been waged in the Caucasus,
the Russian Government had been paying enor-
mous sums for the pay and keep of an imaginary
division for the construction of chimerical forts,
true castles in the air.

Judge by this one fact of the millions squan-
dered away, and of the military power of this great
empire, which for so long a time had believed in
the existence of regular armies, well trained and
inured to war, but which vanish upon closer in-
spection.
You already know the fate of Kinbourn. They
are in serious alarm here about Kherson and Nico-
laieff. The Emperor has confided the defence of
the latter place to General Todleben. Although
he has been killed already several times by either
the newspaper press or the telegraph, the young
general of engineers is in excellent health, and his
wounds are completely healed. They depend
greatly on the skill of which he gave such proofs
during the siege of Sebastopol.
A correspondent of the Constitutionnel sends,
from Odessa, as an extract from the jcurnal of that
city, the order of the day which General Luders
addressed on the 9th instant to the army of the
south, respecting the incorporation of the drus-
chines. It is as follows :

Considering the present conditions of the war, it has
pleased the Emperor to ordain :
The druschines of the mobile defence of the empire,
belonging to the first levy, will serve to reinforce our
armies and will be attached to the regiments, so that they
will strengthen the third and fourth battalions (of each
regiment).
In virtue of this arrangement, 23 druschines (23,000
men), from Smolensk and Moscow, have already arrived
being for the most part under my command.
These new troops, called by the eacred will of the Em-
peror to the defence of t'ieir country, have hastened sin-
cerely to accomplish their sovereign's will, and at the
same lime to satisfy those feelings that animate all loyal
subjects, by joining the ranks of warriors armed in de-
fence of the faith, the Czar, and their country.

We must admit that the druschines who have reached
us are but little adapted for the profession of arms, if
we compare them with our old regiments. But it is for
us to finish the work begun, and we will accomplish it
with zeal and patience.
Twenty druschines (20,000 men) have come to com-
plete the regiment of the 15th division of infantry, of
the 11th division of reserve, and of the 9th division.
I am convinced that all, from the general to the
dier, will receive these young soldiers as brothers, com-
rades, and fellow-countrymen.
Let no gibe nor humiliating word be addressed t
them ; on the contrary, let the warriors who have aban-
doned their peaceful labours and their families, in order
to respond to the call of the Czar, obtain deep and en-
tire consideration.
I order the chiefs of division, of brigade, and the com-
manders of regiments, to direct the instruction of the
militia in a manner not to disgust by useless drillings
men to whom military discipline is a novelty. We must
make the service agreeable to the militia. There is no
occasion for their learning the theory in perfection. It
is enough for them to know to handle their arms, and to
go through the exercises of the chaFseurs and riflemen,
and especially to shoot at a mark. The rest will come
in good time, when we shall be more at leisure.
The officers of the militia will devote themselves more
closely to the service. They have nearly all of them
served, and many of them have been under fire. They
will consequently have no difficulty in remembering the
past.
This order will be read in front of the assembled com-
panies, squadrons, batteries, and druschines.
I am persuaded that every man in my army corre
shares the sentiments which animate me, and that he
will endeavour to co-operate in the common work.
The Commander of the Army of the South'
A.D.C. General LIIMIRS.

THE BALTIC FLEET.
(From, the Times Correspondent.)
OFF REVEL, Oct. 23.—Since my despatch dated
the 16th inst. the only circumstance connected
with passing events in the Gulf of Finland worth
recording is the receipt of information that, in
consequence of the departure for England of the
block ships and gun-boats of the allied squadrons,
the Russians, feeling confident that no further
hostile diversion against any of their ports would
be made during the present campaign, have got
ready for ;service a flotilla of row gun-boats,

for the purpose of making, during the night,
an unexpected attack on the ships at anchor off
Nargen. To counteract these intentions of the
enemy, the senior officer, during the temporary ab-
sence of the Commander-in-Chief, felt it incumbent
on him to direct that the look-out men stationed
at the lighthouse on Nargen island were to notify
to him by certain signals (which it would be im-
prudent to particularise) the approach of any ves-
sel having a suspicious appearance ; also that each
ship was to get a spring from abaft into the hawse-
holes, to retain it there in readiness for being
affixed in cases of emergency ; to have ready
for instant service during night time a por-
tion of guns, the pivot ones on the upper decks
inclusive ; and, in the event of a surprise on the
part of the enemy, the steamers to weigh anchor
and close with the senior officer's ship to receive
orders. Hence should the Russians be bold enough
to show fight at any hour of the day or night they
will meet with a warm reception, and be speedily
compelled to retreat within shelter of their forts.
The English division of the fleet, which com-
prised 104 sail, is now reduced to one-half that
number. Of the French squadron the only ships in
the Baltic are the Tourville, flag-ship, Duchesne,
and Pelican despatch steamer. The Ajax left the
Aland isles a few days since, homeward bound ; the
Edinburgh parted company yesterday at 8 a.m.,
with instructions to touch at Hango, and thence, in
company with the Blenheim, to proceed on their
voyage to England, calling at Kiel to replenish
their stock of coal. These will be followed shortly
by the Nile and Cressy, first, and then by the Royal
George and Majestic. The squadron under the
orders of Rear-Admiral Seymour is hourly ex-
' petted here from Seskar, and will gradually be
sent home.

The Retribution, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral
Baynes, has returned to Ledsund, after a long
cruise in the Gulf of Bothnia. She visited several
of the ports on the Swedish coast, where her pre-
sence afforded infinite delight to the residents,
whose hospitality to the officers was unbounded.
The proceedings iu this division. of the fleet dur-
ing the past week, although devoid of interest,
must not be omitted in my report.
Oct. 17.—Top-gallant yards were crossed at 8 a.m.
The hired steam transport Royal Adelaide returned
from Seskar. Her remaining stock of provisions
were transferred to the Cressy and Royal George.
The Edinburgh was ordered to complete with coal.
Oct. 18.—No signal has been made to-day, nor
any arrival or departure taken place.
Oct. 19.—Blowing fresh from the south-west ;
nothing stirring.
Oct. 20.—Sails loosed at 8 a.m. Steam-transport
Jupiter arrived from Seskar, a working party from
Cressy employed in disembarking her provisions.
All condemned stores to be sent on board her for
conveyance to England. At 1 p.m. the French
line-of-battle ship Duchesne came into the road-
stead from Faro and the Duke of Wellington from
Elgsnabben. The weather having a threatening
aspect, and a strong breeze setting in from the
southward, topgallantmasts were struck.

Oct. 21..---The Locust arrived from the Gulf of
Bothnia at 2.20 p.m., the Vulture from Dantzic at
3.50 p.m., with despatches for the Commander-in-
Chief, and letters for the fleet ; and the Geyser
from Seskar with a collier brig in tow at 4 30 p.m.
The Edinburgh was ordered to prepare for sea.
At 5.30 p.m. the Vulture weighed anchor to con-
vey despatches to Rear-Admiral Seymour, and
letters for the various ships under his orders.
Oct. 22.—The Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett,
weighed at 7 a.m. for Hango, Kiel, and thence to
proceed to Spithead. The Driver's crew were
exercised at the great guns, firing shot and shell
at a target. Gorgon ordered to complete with coal.
At midnight the Majestic, 80, Captain J. Hope,
C. 8., arrived from Seskar—Captains and Com-
manders ordered to attend a court martial, to be
holden on board the Royal George, on Wednesday
next, at 9 a.m.

Oct. 23.—Topgallantmasts and yardq were sent
aloft. The Imperieuse, 50, Captain R. B. Wat-
son, C. 8., arrived from Seskar at 10 a.m. The
Driver takes the mail to Dantzia at 5 p.m. All
the large ships of the fleet are to leave the Gulf of
Finland for England the first week in November.

DANTZIC, Oct. 28.—The Driver left Nargen last
Tuesday afternoon, and arrived here at 11 o'clocklast
night. Captain Gardner reports that during the
last five days a perfect hurricane has been raging
in the Baltic, and with such violence, that for
two whole days his vessel only made an average
rate of about one mile in an hour. Their weekly
trips to Dantzic, although very pleasant in sum-
mer, and acting as an excellent preservative
against ennui (a malady rather prevalent in the
fleet), are still at this time of the year often a very
disagreeable, and sometimes even dangerous, occu-
pation. It is, however, not improbable that with
next week the conveyance of mails between here
and the fleet will cease, at least for this season, the
A apstnatelies beinf in future sent to Kiel.
In my letter last week ventures to express nu
opinion to the effect that it would be next to im-
possible for the fleet to maintain its present posi•
tion in the Gulf of Finland for more than a fort-
night, or, at the most, three weeks longer. Ten
days of the given time have already elapsed, and
the probability of the correctness of my opinion has
already been considerably strengthened, if not, in a
great measure, corroborated by letters teceived
this morning, wherein it is stated that a part of
the fleet (most probably the large line-of-battle
ships) are expected to leave Nargen for Kiel about
the end of the present week. The division under
the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Sey-
mour, K.C.8., hitherto stationed at Seskar, joined
the flag of the Commander-in-Chief at Nargen on
the 24th instant, so that, with the exception of
Admiral Baynes's squadron (which still remains at
Aland Islands), and the few vessels absent on de-
tached service, the whole of the fleet is now as-
sembled at Narrn.