The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 30, 1853.

SHARE MARKETS-(THIS DAY).

PREFERENCE BIIARES.

MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.)

'Aberdeen .

BRITISH RAILWAYS.

'Do., No. 2, 7 p.
IBlyth & Tyne 10 pert
et. pref. (iss. atX5O)l
Bristol & Exeter 4 pr
cent., stock...

CORN EXCHANGE.

Fresh up to this morning's market, the arrivals of Eng-
lish wheats were very limited ; hence, the show of samples
was comparatively small. The attendance of both town
and country millers being good, the demand for all kinds
ruled active, at an advac in the prices of last week of
from 2s to 3s per quarter, and a clearance was speedily
effected.

IDo. Do., shares
iCaledonian £lO
!Chester dr. Holyhead
Guar. 5} per cent
Cork&Bandon 5 p.c
Dundce Perth &Aber-
deep Junction

6 7 ibi

shiTphineerentwx
t egood
n ni
nq en try
tr fn
per quarter higher than on Friday last. The imports are
only 4,570 quarters.
gn
s
Floating cargoes sold freely, and the quotations had an
upward tendency. weliree aftrO Ina r t2slyt of3ors
aoar fporrieeei
We had rather an active inquiry for barley, and fine
parcels advanced is per quarter.
Malt was in short supply and good request, at extreme
quotations.
The oat trade was rather active, and good dry corn pro-
duced 6d to is per quarter more money.
White peas were is to 2s higher. Grey and maple, as
well as beans, moved off readily at extreme rates.
The flour trade was firm, and American barrels were is
dearer.

EastA nglian (£3los)'
6 per cent............'

61 -- 6i
4 44
5i -- 6
-- 1 p
lh --i 1p
-- Lp
151-- 14
20 -- 21

Do: (/',5) 7 per cent..
Do. (1.17 17s) 7 p ct..
Eastern Counties Ex-
tencion, 5 p. c. No.l
Do., No. 2
Do., New 6 p. C St..
Eastern Union, Scrip
Guar. 6 per cent....
Do. .£lO Debeu. Sh...
EastLancash. 6 p.cts
East & West Yorksh
Junction Fifths
Edinb.Prth.4Dundee
4 per cent.
Glasgow & S.Western
guar. 5 per cent
Great Northr sp. e
Do. 5 p. c.,Redeem.,
at 10 p. c. prem
Do. 4,1 percent. Scrip'
Gt.N. of Scot. ,lst Prefl
Gt. Southn. &Westn 1
(Ireland) Eighths '
Do. 4 per ct. pref. St ,
Gt. IN estn. (Becks ct)
Hants Ex. 5 p. c.) t
Do. con. & red. 41 p.e(
Do. do. 4 per cent 1
Do. irredeem. 4 p. c
Lan. & York. F. £2O,
Do., 6 p. c., Stock—.
Leeds Nn. 6p. c. No.l'
Do. Quarters,lB4B 1
London andlßrightoni
Guaranteed 5 p. C
Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St
Do. Convertible, 5 p
c., 1852...
Do. New Guar. 6 p.c.
Lond. & N. W., Coy.
& Nun., 5 per cent.
London & S.Western,
Con. Thirds

Wheat.
1,110

ARRIVALS THIS WERIE.
Barley. I Malt. Oats. Flour.
1,720 f 1,640 3,240 890

- 2i

English ..
Irish ....
Foreign ..

4,570 1 1,780

8,250 I 9,76-T) brs

120 - 122

SMITHFIELD.

;109 - 110

To-day's market was fairly supplied with beasts as to
number, but their general quality was inferior. Prime
Scots, &c., sold steadily, at full prices. Otherwise, the
beef trade ruled dull, at Monday's currency. Prime Down
sheep were scarce, and quite as dear as last week. All
other breeds were in moderate request on former terms.
Calves—The supply of which was limit': d—sold slowly ;
but no actual change took place in their value.
Milch cows were very dull, at from 141. to 191. each, in-
cluding their small calf.

8 - N

61 7
101 103
95 100
93 100
id par
'143 145

Per Sibs to sink the ofthls.

s. d. s. d.
Inferior Beasts.... 3 2 to 3 4
Second quality.... 3 6 3 10
Prime large oxen 4 0 4 4
Prime Scots, &c. 4 6 4 8
Inferior Sheep ...3 0 3 4
Second quality ...3 6 4 4
Prime crse.-wlled.4 6 4 10

s. d. s. d.
Prime Soutl- down 5 0 5 2
Large erse. calves 3 6 4 4
Prime small d 0... 4 6 5 0
Large hogs 3 4 4 0
Small porkers 4 2 410
Sucklingealves ..22 0 28 0
',Quarter old pigs 21 0 26 0

2i - 3

Londonderry& Coler.
Shares ......
Londy. & Ennis.
,Shef., &Lin.,
Shaves, No.
Do. New, £lO
Do., £6. .....
Yfarypt. &Carl. 4 p. c
Do. 4a per cent
Do ...... .....

1'24 - ii

7 8
9i - Di
4 - aP

Mid.Consol. 6 p.c. St.
Do. Cousol. Bristol dz.,
Birm. 6 per cent
Do. Pref. 4 per cent
Norfolk Debent. Sh
Norfolk Extension
Do. Pref. 5 per ct
Do. Way. Val. 5 p c
North British

141 143
i id

R 66 -110
Rl2 - 116

North Staffordshire
Oxford Worcester &
Wroiverh. £15,6p. c
Do

2i. C.: 25

102 - 104
i - .iP

Scot. Cm., New Pref.
Shrews& 13irm. N. G.
Shrewsby. & Chester,
(Nor. W.Min),B P.C.
Do. 5 per cent..
South Devon
Do. New

- 104
15 - 164
9 - 104
13 - 15
d- ip

5. Eastern (Reading
Ann.,) of £1 Os.6d.
S.Yorksh.4p.c.Gnar.
Watered. &Ktlk. 6p. c.
York Newcastle and
Berwick,l p.e.Pref
Do
York& N. Midland H
& S. Purch

23 24
17 19
1 d

96 - 99
4 - 44

id pail

THE MILITARY STRENGTH OF RUSSIA.

The Speetateur Militaire contains an article on
the armies of Russia, of some value at the present
moment. It is an analysis, with comments, of a
pamphlet recently published by Baron Auguste
de Haxthaussen ;% the pamphlet itself being an
extract from a work in three volumes, published
originally in 1848, under the title, Etudes sur la
Situation Interieure, la Vie Nationale, et les Insii-
tutions Rurales de la Bussie.

The Spectateur observes, that the author seems
designedly to have chosen such burning epochs as
1848 and 1853 as fitting seasons to lay before
Western Europe a work in which the strength and
resources of the Muscovite Colossus, as we have
been accustomed to think him, are detaled with an
enthusiasm amounting to exaggeration. Whatever,
however, may have been the author's motive, his book
deserves attention, as from its perusal we may attain
to a fair approximation to a knowledge of the
numbers which the Czar can actually call into the
field ; as to the quality of these numbers, events in
actual progress will soon give us some practical
knowledge. Baron Haxthaussen gives most im-
portant informaticin as to the heterogeneous ele-
ments which compose the Russian army--it 3 re-
sources of every kind, prepared now for a long
time—its formation and numerical strength. He

considers the Great Army of Operations, as the
active army is called, to be remarkable for the
speed of its movements,—" Son armee active,. Bite
Grande Armee d'Operation, est d'une mobilite re-
marquable ;" upon which the Spectatcur observes
that experience has always proved the contrary.
However rapid the movements of a Russian army
may have been when fairly in an enemy's land,—
witness Suwarrow's brilliant campaign in Northern
Italy and Switzerland in 1799,--yet history always
tells us, at the commencement of a war, of allies
looking with anxious glance to the North for their
expected succour, and. in imminent danger of utter
destruction pending its arrival. We must, indeed,
except the prompt and rapid movement of the
Russians when called to the suppression of the
Hungarian insurrection.
We must observe that Baron Hanthaussen is
absolutely carried away by his enthusiasm. for
Russia. His comparisons are ill-chosen. Surely,
in comparing the military organization of Russia
of the present day with that of France, it is not
with the administration of Louis XIV. or Louis
XV. that the comparison should have been made,
but with that of his Imperial Majesty Napoleon
111. On this subject the Spectatcur justly
remarks,—
" Why speak of the Sybaritism and lax discipline of
the French troops during the seven years' war ? Com-
pare the Russian soldiers who fought in the Caucasian
wars with our soldiers daily engaged at the foot of the
Atlas range ; speak to us of our army of Italy, which
has saved the capital of the Christian world."

The Baron attaches great importance to the names
given to each regiment: in the Russian army, in-
stead of a simple.number, as in the French army.
It is rather characteristic 'of our gallant neigh-
bours over the water to attach much importance
to such a small matter ; but the Spectator re-
marks,—
"This system has been kept up in Russia in order to
perpetuate the historic souvenirs of each regiments, and
to revive at the moment required the passive courage
of the Russian soldier. This system, which may be well
suited to nations among whom men are slow and difficult
to be aroused, was suppressed in France at the great re-
volution, as it recalled the ancient divisions, feudal and
seigneurales, and was opposed to that amalgamation of
the French people which produced strength by unity.
Great advantages have accrued in the recruiting of the
French armies by this change, and the memorable battles
of the Pyramids, of Arcola, f Rivoli, Marengo, Auster-
litz, Jena, Eylau, Friesland, Wagram, Moscowa, Lutzen,
Bautzen&c., prove that the mere numbering of our regi-
ments has not lowered the intrinsic courage of our soldiers.
If at a later period the restored familyresumed the plan ofre-
cruiting by departments. as formerly the recruitment had
been by provinces.; and if we had the legion of Calvados, of
L'll6rault, of the Cantal, &c., it was evidently done to
please the old Courts of Europe ; for as soon as France
was again free in her movements she got rid of the re-
maining marks of feudalism to return to the plan of
simple numbering of regiments, which admits of an
equalisation of physical strength."
The Spectateur then proceeds to say that the
Russians regiments, already locally named, receive
a number to show their place in order of battle,
whether they be cavalry or infantry, just as our
Scots Greys are the 2d Regiment of Dragoons—
nulli secumdus, as they proudly add on their
achievements—just as our Enniskillen Dragoons
are our 6th Regiment ; just as our East Kent re-
giment (the Buffs) is our 3d Regiment of Infantry
our Ist Warwickshire is our 6th Regiment, our
East Norfolk is our 9th, our Yorkshire East 'Riding
is our 15th, our Leicestershire our 17th, our Royal
Irish our 18th, our Cheshire our 22d, our Royal
Welsh Fusiliers our 23d, and so on to the 99th.
The Spectateur continues,—
" We inSnitely regret that a deplorable partiality
pervades this pamphlet, in which the author be-
comes the apologist of all the measures of the Rus-
sians—political, administrative, and military—and the
depreciator of every Western idea. If M. de liaxthaus-
sen were not an admirer of quand 'unite of the Russian
Government, he would certainly have expended his
criticisms, not on the measures exported from Paris to
St. Petersburg, but their unreasonable application to
men unable to appreciate their value, -or who, in their
imprudent pride, thought it was sufficient to copy what
vas done in France in order to raise a Russian to the
elevated position of a French soldier."

These are but French opinions of Russian sol-
diers ; but, as we are quoting a military periodical
in high repute in France, and a devoted Bona-
partist organ, we think we are not wasting time in
recording such opinions. Our French editor pro-
ceeds to say,—
" We have too high an opinion of M. de Haxthaussen
not to be convinced .that .he well knows that every
poople.has its own peculiar stamp, and that, in spite of
the efforts of the Emperor Nicholas, the Russians have
to undergo many a change ere they reach the level of
soldiers of Western Europe"—that is to say of French
soldiers, as we do not suppose that our military editor
means to assert the inferiority of Russian troops, either
to Spaniards or to Portuguese. Whether Eno.lislimen
are included under the name Western Europlans, or
whether we are still to be classed as " des fieres insa-
laires," and nothing more, we know not.
. The Spectateur continues,—

" That part of the work which relate to the Cossacks,
seems to us to be written truthfully, and in great de-
tail. The author, after conferring the highest praises
on these troops, finishes by somewhat qualifying his
estimate of their real value, and what he says of their
utility in war is incontestable, and has been already
pointed out to the Emperor Nicholas by a Russian gene-
ral officer in a memoir, entitled " The Cossacks, and
their Usefulness in War."
The Speetateur's Comments on the eoneludieg
portion of Baron Haxthaussen's book, which treats
of the naval strength of Russia, we translate ver-
batim :

" " Our author (Ilaxthaussen),"
always abounding in courtesy to
tahye theczar ,Spexeccitaatiems
sr
without attempting to prove what would indeed be most
difficult of proof, that the fleet is completely equipped
and efficiently manned (complaement equipde, et pour
vue d'un nomhreux personnel). We willingly admit that
the Russian navy is well equipped, but M. de Haxthaus-
sen must agree with us that good materials alone aret
not sufficient to constitute a good navy, as ment must,
above all, be thoroughly accustomed to the se
any use. Now, ' surely it is not in the
.BlanckaSeol that
the Russian navy can acquire this.nextpheerifiennect
in, coasting
-
is all that can be learnt there. As to
Bal-
tic, the ice holds it prisonermonths, and when
forit is in vain that it looks
the tardy thaw does set it free,
..
on the distant horizon alnid the mighty waves of the
its younger sister of the Euxine
Sea. ,What Can we
ocean, for its other half,
tihin k of the state of a fleet which
can only
re for one single month in the year ?"
anceLenvdone with our French editors 's com-
ments on his We have pow
countryman's book, and we
will proceed to an analysis of the letter. We shall bear
a the Muscovite predilection with which his own
in nll7°
charges him, and take all his statements
with countrymanT pportionate grain of salt.
The remarkable institutions which actually exist in
Russia may be traced back to the reign of Peter I. ; but
since that period the military power of this empire has
extended vastly. With the exception of the Cossacks
and the militia, all the regular army may de looked upon
as the work of his (Peter's) hands.
Peter I. was not the first Russian monarch who saw
the superiority of Western military art, and who endea-
voured to introduce it into his own army. Ivan 111.,
between 1462 and 1503, had attempted to organise a per-
manent army ; but the scanty intercourse between Rus-
sia and Western Europe kept Russia from a thorough
acquaintance with the progress of the art of war, and
opposed various obstacles to the military reforms pro-
posed by the Czars. The national spirit of the Rus-
sians, moreover, repels, with an antipathy often fanati-
cal. whatever comes from a foreign source.
The Russian army was composed at that time of a
feudal arrive ban, ± of an effective force of about
260,000 men. This army, which had all the defects in-
herent in feudal arrays, and which was strongly marked
with the military manners of Asia, was grouped, in time
of war, around a nucleus of permanently levied troops,
the greater part of which were composed of the famous
Strelitz.
The Strelitiz, who were raised by Alexis Michaelo-
witz, father of Peter 1., to about 40,000 men, bore a
strong resemblance to the Janissaries, not only in their
organization and privileges, but also in their qualities
and in their defects. Like the Janissaries, the Strelitz
formed the nucleus of the army when they manifested
bravery and usefulness in time of war; like the Janis-
saries, demoralized by their privileges in time of peace,
they became an arrogant and factious soldiery ; and,