The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 8, 1854.

such misconception. Mr. GLADSTONE, after speak-
ing of the large increase to our armaments, which
gave " virtually an addition to the disposable
forces of the country by land and sea of nearly
fifty thousand men," added, with an emphasis that
elicited enthusiastic cheering from all sides of the
House, " this looks like an intention to carry on
war with vigour 1" There was not the slightest
intimation here of the sum then asked for being
merely " for preparations, and no more." It
was clearly intimated that it was for the "prose-
cution of the war," until some new exigency arose
that could not then be anticipated. But, lest any
doubt should remain as to his intentions, or what
he wished to be understood as his intentions, he
put forward this important interrogatory—" Is
it right that we should ourselves make a resolute
endeavour to defray the charges of this coming
war ? or would it be just, would it be manly,
would it be Worthy of the wealth and power of
England that we should charge these burdens
upon our posterity ?" Surely, after this, no
doubt could remain as to his views. The Times
was deceived, the people of England were deceived,
and the only question now is, whether the error
was ascribable to mistake or to wilful and delib-
erate falsehood ? We cannot think that any
true friend of Mr. GLADSTONE would endea-
vour to defend his capacity at the expense
of his integrity. It may be very well for a Finan-
cial Minister to acquire a reputation for acute-
ness, but what our transatlantic brethren term
" tarnation sharpness" is not the quality which
commands the respect or obtains the confidence
of a plain, upright, and truth loving people. He
will, therefore, have a difficult task before him.
For his own sake, and that.of the country, we
trust he may not again commit similar mistakes,
or so greatly mislead the people as to their real
financial position and prospects.

TV VtAr
k, ' e

THE WAR.

MORE ABOUT THE ATTACK ON ODESSA.

In our Saturday's edition there appeared a
summary of the despatches published in the
Moniteur of that day respecting the bombardment
of Odessa. We now give these despatches verbatim,
together with the introductory observations of that
French journal. The Moniteur says :
" The Government has received the following details
of the attack directed against Odessa by the admirals of
the combined fleets. We know not which to admire
the most—the energy and the rapidity or the certainty
of the blow which the two navies have struck on this
occasion. An attack had been made against the law of
nations by the military authorities of Odessa. The
object of the admirals was to chastise the authors of it.
It is on the military part of the Russian town—on its
warlike establishments—that our sailors concentrated
their fire ; and Europe will remark with what scruples
of humanity and with what precision of movement they
respected the commercial part of the place, and spared
it, as well as the property of neutrals, from any damage.
In acting with this consideration and generosity, the
French Admiral conformed himself to the general in-
structions which he received in compliance with the
wish of the Emperor, and which ordered him to spare
open towns as much as possible :
" VILLE DE PARIS, ODESSA ROADS, APRIL 25.—0 n
the morning of the 22d eightsteamfrigates, three French
and five English, proceeded to the Imperial port of
Odessa, and at half-past 6 four of them had opened their
fire on the land batteries. The two moles, as well as
the intermediate batteries, warmly returned it. At 10
o'clock four other frigates joined, and then the action
became general. It continued until 5 o'clock in the
evening, when Admiral Dunda,s made signal to the fri-
gates to join the squadron. The fire had gained the
battery of the Imperial mole ; the powder magazine had
blown up ; 15 vessels, with the exception of two or three,
were either sunk or on fire. The naval establishments
were also on fire, or very much injured from the shells.
The town and the commercial port, where a number of
vessels of all nations were moored, were respected.
Several of these vessels took advantage of the confusion
and got out, and among them the only two French
vessels that were there.'

"The Turkish Ambassador, on his part, has received
from the Ottoman Legation at Vienna the following de-
spatch on the same subject :
" I have just received the following despatch from
Belgrade ; it has been communicated to me by Omer
Pasha, who begged me to transmit it to you. Eight
steam-frigates belonging to the combined fleet, pro-
ceeded to Odessa, and commenced bombarding the
military port on the 22d. In a few hours they destroyed
all the fortifications, the batteries, and the military es-
tablishments of the Russians. Two powder magazines
blew up, and 12 of the enemy's vessels of war were
sunk. The commercial port was spared, and the mer-
chant vessels escaped. Thirteen Russian vessels, laden
with stores and ammunition, were captured.'
"The town of Odessa was defended by four batteries,
which were constructed about the beginning of this
year, and were placed as follow :—The first of 12 guns,
on the mole of the quarantine port, defending the
entrance of the great roadstead ; the second, of
six guns, below the boulevard and to the right of the
flight of which comes down to the sea, and divides
the boulevard in two ; this battery defends the entrance
of the quarantine port ; the third to the left of the
steps, placed in such a manner as to cross ,its fire with
that of the second battery, and to command the road
stead ; the fourth, on the quay of the port de pratique
below the palace of Prince Woronzoff ; each of these
two last-named batteries had eight guns. In addition
to these four batteries there were three others ; one on
the other side of the Gulf of Odessa, at the Russian
village of Dofinofka, nearly opposite the quarantine
port; the other, to the south of this port, near the
n,asnsdinifeLanartgheercon ; an
Cape
eo(fl
the
tcGhorinerndai country
-ohtuohnuetsaesianio,nfwe reree cCatCountess
n lighthouse is also placed."
The Moniteur has also the following statement
respecting the operations at Odessa :

"According to the reports circulated by several jour-
nals, the bombardment of Odessa by the allied fleet gave
rise to an attempt at landing which did not succeed, and
it has been said that several vessels engaged in the action
were seri usly injured. It has also been said that the
division appointed to operate against Odessa was obliged
to cease firing, in order to oppose a demonstration of
the Russian fleet from Sebastopol.

"The despatch from A,dmiral Hamelin proves that
these reports are destitute of foundation.
" As to the losses which our fleet has experienced,
according to the latest information which has reached
us, the number of killed was eight, and the total number
of wounded is 18."

The Presse of Vienna, of the 4th inst., has an
Odessa letter of the 25th, of which the following is
a translation :
" The last ship belonging to the combined fleets has dis-
appeared to-day, and the excitement and terror of the
inhabitants of Odessa have in some measure subsided.
As the Anglo-French vessels neared the city, the greater
part of the people fled. As on the 13th, the Furious,
which had nominally come to fetch away the English and
French Consuls, was fired at by the strand batteries, the
commander of the port probably had a presentiment that
the protecting fleet would soon appear. Accordingly
on the 14th of A prii, he addressed a proclamation to the
inhabitants of Ode-,sa, in which he summoned them, as
a blockade, or even a bombardment, was to be expected,
to remove their goods into the interior. At half-past 3
on the 14th seven men of war hove in sight, and announced
their arrival by discharging a few guns at our port-bat-
teries. In spite of the assurance of the Russian officers
that the danger was not so near, the terrified people fled
from the city, which was garrisoned by strong detach-
ments of soldiers.

" Without loss of time intelligence was forwarded to
St. Petersburg and Sebastopol that the bombardment of
Odessa had begun on the 14th. The newly arrived vessels
however kept out of the range of the port batteries, and
snapped up all the merchantmen which attempted to enter
the harbour. During the night between the 14th and 15th
the vessels sent a few broadsides into the magazines near
the beach, and one was burned. The watchfulness of the
commander of the ',port, who! had made all the
necessary preparations for extinguishing a fire, saved
us from any greater misfortune. On the 15th, the
ships left for Varna with their prizes, and every one
thought the danger was over. On the 16th, towards
six in the evening, some 17 vessels appeared on the
horizon, and on their arrival placed themselves within
range of our batteries, and no more ; they then turned,
and their first salutation was a broadside from 900 guns.
On the 17th April, a steamer, with a flag of truce
flying, entered the port, but a few shots which were fired
from the batteries prevented her advancing. A Rus-
sian ship went off to the steamer, which had brought a
written summons from the British Admiral to surrender
all the ships which were in port. This was peremptorily
refused, and at 3 on the same day the ships, then at a
greater distance, opened a tremendous fire on our strand
batteries, two of which were dismounted. Two magazines
took fire, but as night drew on the bombardment ceased.
From the 18th up to the 22d negotiations were carried
on, during which the Russians were receiving reinforce.
ments, and the injured batteries got into order. On the
22d, at 8 in the morning, a still more violent bombard-
ment began, which was continued without interruption
until half-past six in the evening. Must of the strand
batteries were injured, and those in the north-east cor-
ner of the port were almost entirely dismounted.
" The loss of the Russians, who displayed the greatest
intrepidity, is estimated at 200 men, more than 300 were
dangerously, and more than twice that less severely,
wounded. Six magazines were burnt. The city
suffered comparatively little, though a few of the
principal buildings, and among the rest the Woron-
zoff Palace, were a prey to the flames.
Odessa has completely changed its external appearance.
The terrific cannonade has broken all the windows,
many chimneys have fallen, and the steeples of many
churches are injured. The fleet also suffered, for five
ships were put hors de combat, and taken in tow to Varna.
The French attempted to land at the south-west end of
the port, but were repulsed with loss by a powerful
Russian force. We are still occupied in quenching the
miming ruins. During the action the sea ran extremely
high.
According to another report the batteries at the
north-eastern (or Cherson) end of the port were ex-
tremely well worked, although they were exposed
to the fire of six steamers, which sent in an inces-
sant showers of bombs, rockets, and red-hot balls.
The harbour, or harbours of Odessa are artificial,
There are two moles. The so-called Pratika, (or
quarantine) harbour is in the centre : Cherson is
the so-called war port. Among the prizes taken to
Varna is one which is said to have a very con-
siderable sum in silver on board.

CONSTANTINOPLE.
REVIEW OF THE BRITISH TROOPS.

A correspondent of a contemporary writes as
follows from Constantinople on April 24 :
" A British army at Constantinople is so novel a
sight, that it engrosses all attention at the present
moment; indeed, there is little of local political interest
stirring here just now, with the exception of the
departure of the Greeks.
" Tho 23d, 41st, 47th, 49th, 77th, and 88th regi-
ments are all quartered in the great barrack at Scutari,
on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus ; and the day
before yesterday the 7th Fusiliers arrived here from
Malta, by the Golden Fleece, and were landed at the
same place.
" Oa Friday the six regiments had a field day, under
General Adams. They left their quarters at half-past
ten o'clock, and marched out to the great undulating
plain that lies on the heights between Scutari and Kadi-
Kiew. Some two thousand persons had collected to
witness the manoeuvres. Not having been generally
known, however, but few of the European or Turkish in-
habitants at Constantinople crossed the Bosphorus to be
present at the British military operations. Amongst
the persons present were to be remarked Lord Carlisle,
M. de Wildenbruck, the Prussian ambassador ; Baron
Tecco, the Sardinian Minister ; with a number of Eng-
lish gentlemen, and some foreigners. A great many of
the inhabitants of Scutari were present, with a fair
sprinkling of Turkish women, in their yashmaks, and
plenty of children and attendants.
" The troops were drawn out in a line and reviewed ;
alter which they closed, and sent out skirmishing par-
ties. There was a good deal of advancing, retreating,
and countermarching, and the men went through their
evolutions with precision and accuracy. No attempt
at a sham battle was made ; indeed, it was something
between a review and parade. A. Prussian colonel

expressed the greatest admiration of the troops. He

,v, r
were exercising on too unev,ni ground to edable him to
judge accurately of their movements ; but that the man-
ner in which they closed in ranks, with one straight
line of black knapsacks, all in a row, was admirable.
He was much struck by the quiet way in which they
faced about and changed position, and the general tran-
quillity that prevailed throughout the ranks—not a man
opening his mouth, or exchanging a word with his
neighbour. Physically speaking, he said, he never
saw a more active and able-bodied set of men.

"It was thought that the Sultan would have
honoured the British troops with a visit. It being Fri-
day (Turkish Sunday), many were of opinion that he
would have gone to mosque at Scutari, and then have
proceeded to the exerei,ing ground ; we were, however,
all disappointed. On Tuesday next the Seraskier (Mi-
nister of War) is going. It is, however, not probable
that the Sultan will no so before the arrival of Lord
Raglan and the Duke of Cambridge.
"The 7th Fusiliers, 33d, 41st, 47th, 49th, 77th, and
88th, now form the garrison at Scutari. The 23d and
95th are daily expected, and are to be encamped outside
the barracks. The Guards at Malta await the arrival of
Lord Raglan, and are then to come on, and it is said
are to be quartered in barracks about three or four miles
north of the city. The barracks at Scutari are very
fine, being in the shape of a square, and three storeys
high—a very fine gallery going round the whole building
on the inside, off which are the men's rooms. These gal-
leries are admirably adapted for hot weather. Parades
can be held in them, and the men's rooms aro lofty, and
about 38 by 28 feet in width. Eighty men are in each
loom. They lie on the floor, and are much better off
than in tents, with the exception of certain "var-
mints " as bed-fellows. The rations are tolerably
good in quality, and consist of 141 b. of bread and 11b.
of meat ; and considering that about 6,000 men are
here, with only one brigadier, who is only in temporary
command of so large a force, whose staff consists
of a brigade-major, a deputy-assistant-quartermaster, a
major-general, and an ensign of the 47th regiment, it is
wonderful how well they got on. The commissariat
consists of a few young officers, their chiefs having
remained in England so as to come out in state with
Lord Raglan. In general the health of the men is good.
The regiments recently arrived from England have the
greatest number in hospital, their ailments in general
being the result of their own indiscretion previous to
embarkation ; the rest suffering from cuts, bruises, &c.,
got on board ship. A very large hospital is within 200
yards of the barracks. A number of Turkish soldiers
lately wounded in action are under treatment there. Our
sick are very well accommodated there--good clean beds,
very white sheets, and looking more comfortably than
in our ow n hospitals at home.

" The troops here may well congratulate themselves
at not being at or near Gallipoli, and it is to be hoped
that those in authority will now open their eyes, and
adopt some of the admirable arrangements of the French
in the equipment of an army for the field. A French
officer here said to an English, We shall pick up a
wrinkle or two from you, but by Jove you have much
to learn from us.' He was right, and the officers of the
English army know it.
" Yesterday the City of London Peninsular and
Oriental steamer came in, bringing Sir De Lacy Evans
and staff, Lieutenant-Colonel Coningham, assistant
quartermaster-general; Brigadier• General Pennefather,
acd Colonel Gordon, assistant adjutant-general. A
company of sappers and miners belonging to the pon-
toon brigade also came by her, and a number of Lord
Raglan's horses. They all lauded at Seutari.

'-'-The staff of royal engineers are very busy. Captain
Chapman and two lieutenants are at Buyuk-Tchekmecije,
laying out the line of fortification's between that place
and the Black Sea. General Tylden, royal engineers,
is still laid up at Therapia. Two other senior officers of
the expedition (colonels) are laid up—the one remaining
behind at Gibraltar, the other invalided at Gallipoli.
Commissary-General Fielder has arrived here.

" This is-Easter, and the Christian population of Con-
stantinople are indulging in a three days' jollification. In
Turkey the burial-grounds are the chosen spots for merri-
ment. Some 50 Lents have been erected at thegreat cemetery
of Peri, amidst the tombstones; with drinking-booths,
swings, and different species of games, in which the hamals
(porters) and the lower order of rayahe in general delight
to indulge, whilst others tear up and down the roads on
horseback, at the imminent risk of breaking their own
and other people's necks. At the same time, the burial
service is being rem' over some Armenian, who is car-
ried to the grave in an open coffin, and descends into
his last home accompanied by the merry shouts of his
drunken countrymen. Yesterday I saw an old man car-
ried across the road on his way to the grave, and one of
these mad horsemen rode directly against the little pro-
cession, very nearly capsizing the dead ; and if it had
not been for a dexterous thrust given to his horse by a
bystander, they might have had some more persons to
bury besides the old man in the coffin.
" The accounts from the Black Sea announce that her
Britannic Majesty's steam-frigates, the Retribution,
Captain the Hon. J. R. Drummond, and Niger, Cap-
tain Heath, had been making some prizes—two Rus-
sian steamers and ten Russian sailing-vessels, it is said.
" On the British war-steamers arriving at Odessa,
and demanding the reason why the Russians had fired
upon the boat's crew of the Fury with a flag of truce,
they replied that she was taking soundings. They have
also refused to allow the British merchant vessels to de-
part. Quid nunc ? The fleets have now really gone to
Odessa.

" My last accounts from the Danube reach to the 16th.
They are devoid of particular interest. The Russians
hold the Dobrudscha. Schurnla is being fortified, addi-
tional outworks are being constructed, and the Turks
seem determined to await the advance of the enemy in
their strongholds.

" APRIL 25.—Since writing yesterday, the 23d Fusi-
liers and 95th regiment have arrived ; together with
Lord Raglan's staff, and also that of the Duke of Cam-
bridge ; one company of the 19th regiment ; Sir Colin
Campbell and staff ; Sir Richard England and staff ;
and a company of Sappers.
"The 7th, 77th, 95th, and 23d have left the barracks,
and encamped under canvas on the heights between
Scutari and Kadi-Kiew.

"We are hourly expecting Prince Napoleon and the
Duke of Cambridge."

THE BALTIC.

ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH FLEET AT
WINGO.

Accounts received from Gottenburg report the
arrival of the French fleet in Wingo Sound.
COPENHAGEN, Saturday, May 6.—Two steam
frigates have joined the English fleet at Elfsnaben.
Corvettes are taking prizes of Sundsball, Gefle,
and Aland.

At a banquet in the park, on the Ist May, the
Swedish House of Yeomen drank with enthusiasm
the health of the admiral.
The Weser Gazette contains a letter from Berlin
of the 3d, which says :—" The cabinet of St.
Petersburg had some weeks back made a pressing
demand on the Prussian Government to close its
ports against the ships of the western powers, and,
in case of refusal, it had menaced to concentrate a
Russian army in Poland on the Prussian frontier ;
but since the Austro-Prussian treaty of alliance
has been concluded, the Cabinet of St. Petersburg
has abandoned its intention. Baron de Werther,
the Prussian ambassador at Copenhagen, arrived
here two days back, and immediately d a con-
ference with the President of the Council. Yester-
day lie was received by the King at a private audi-
ence. He is shortly to take his departure for St.
Petersburg, where he is to replace General de
Rochow, recently deceased."
Letters from Helsingfors of the 20th instant
state that an attempt had been made in that town
to enrol "a voluntary corps of defenders," but
with very little success, not more than from ten
to twenty persons having given in their names,
and they being under direct Russian influence. A
grenadier regiment had arrived in Helsingfors.
One of the Finnish journals, the Osterbotten, states
that there are many appearances of an early spring.
All public works were suspended, and the price of
all export articles has greatly fallen.
A letter from a resident in Hull, published by
the Doncaster Gazette, says :
"I have just seen two gentlemen who arrived here by
the Helen Macgregor steamer from Hainburgh. One
lett Cronstadt and the other St. Petersburg about 13
days ago. The one from Cronstadt says that the Em-
peror is putting large heavy pieces of flat iron down in
the river with sharp heavy spikes fastened in the centre,
in order to pierce our ships as they sail towards the port.
The Emperor was down there himself, looking over the
different forts ; and he asked one of his admirals about
the safety of the place from the attack of our combined
fleets. The admiral's reply was, that it was of no use
keeping the ships of war in the port, as they would be
sure to be burnt or destroyed. And that it was arranged
that they should be brought out and placed in a line
across the river or gulf, so as to act as a battery ; the ad-
miral adding that they might be the means of doing a
great deal of damage to our fleet : if they were shattered
to pieces in that position it would not matter. They have
3,000 guns in the different batteries there. Two or three
English merchants have built houses in the immediate
neighbourhood. The Emperor has seized them, turned
the owners out, and made use of them for barracks for
his troops. 100,000 men of all arms are located there,
and about 200,000 more all along the coast of Finland—
some at one place and some at another. At St. Peters-
burg there was the greatest consternation, and the Eng-
lish were leaving as fast as they could. One poor fel-
low, who got his little property converted into cash, was
seized and robbed, except a handful of sovereigns which
he snatched, and with which, by good luck. he escaped.
It was the opinion of a great many people (English) who
could not get away, that, in some districts, they might
expect to be murdered by the Russians all at once, if
things should go adverse to the Emperor's wish. He
said they would give all they had to leave the country.
Sir Charles Napier is dreadfully feared by the Emperor
and his troops."

GREECE.

BLOCKADE OF GREECE BY TURKEY.

The Tabor which arrived at Marseilles on the
sth, brings news from the Levant to the effect that
Turkey is
going to blockade Greece.
At Toulon, on the sth, detachments of marines
embarked for Greece, to protect the French there.
SALONICA, April 21.—Yesterday a courier ar-
rived here, sent by the Bishop of Cassandra to the
governor of this place, announcing that 3,000
Greek insurgents had disembared and landed at
Scika. These rebels were brought there by 13

Greek ships. As soon as the governor had received
this news, he i,;:mneLiiately informoi the l'rehch con-
sul of it, who COMinuilicated it to thu cLi:),ain of the
French steamer Heron,which leaves to-day for those
parts. This night two cannon and about 50 artillery-
men left, and to-day a 1000 irregular soldiers will be
sent there. Thus, now, the insurrection is in the very
heart of Macedonia. This news has greatly affected
Mehemet Paella, and he seems to have very nearly
lost all his presence of mind. A panic has also
spread through the whole population.
VoLo, April 20.—Everything here is quiet, and
it is believed that all is tranquil in consequence of
the presence of her Britannic Majesty's ship Le-
ander. The insurgents left this place soon after her
arrival, and joined the other party at Platoon, but
they were surprised by the Turkish troops and
fled ; afterwards the whole village was seen to be
in flames. Papa Costa has gone to Vilestina. A
fight has taken place, but with little loss of life.
He mow seems desirous of drawing in his horns.
Mr. Blunt arrived here this morning, and pro-
ceeded at once to Larissa. He brought a letter
from our ambassador with him, printed in Greek,
to distribute among the inhabitants. This will
have a good effect, and from the present appear-
ance of things, it is thought all will remain. quiet.
Mr. Blunt is much respected, and his words have
great influence with the Greeks. Captain King,
of the Leander, has been very kind to us. He
presented me with an English flag, to hoist for
protection. The people immediately came round
me, and our little flag gave protection to all.—
Correspondent of the Morning Chronicle.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PORTE
AND GEN. BARAGUA Y D'HILLIERS.
According to advices from Constantinople of the
27th ult., the French Ambassador insisted on the
united Catholic Greeks being permitted to remain
in Turkey.
A seri,Jus misunderstanding arose, and General
Baraguay d'Hilliers prepare,i to leave Constanti-
nople, when the Porte yielded.
The Sultan is said to be seriously indisposed.

THE ENGLISH CONSUL ORDERED TO
LEA.VE ST. PETERSBURG.

Annexed is an extract from a letter received in
the city from St. Petersburg, dated April 21 :
This day her Majesty's consul here received notice
that the Russian Government will no longer recog-
nise him in his official capacity. Count Nesselrode
further informed him in the most polished terms
that his passports will forthwith be prepared, and
desired to know for what place they should be made
out, and by what persons he intended to be accom-
panied. It is understood that he must not delay
his departure beyond a fortnight from this day.
There are so many people escaping from the clutches
of the despot, and selling off their property, that at
this time no buyers are to be found for anything
but the necessaries of life. There is an utter and
general dearth of money, and purchasers are not to
be found at any price for the goods and chattels of
those unfortunate persons who are obliged to leave,
and cannot, of course, convey their goods to Eng-
land.

PERSIA CLAIMS THE RESTITUTION OF

HER ANCIENT PROVINCES.

According to news brought -bftlie'ttll,l373r, which
arxived at Marseilles on the sth from the Levant,
the policy of the Shah of Persia appears to have
become hostile to Russia. He
_claims the restitu-
tion of the ancient provinces, and -is »fitting in
motion an army of 50,000ritem •