The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-28 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

Extraordinary preparations are being made on various
points of the Gulf of Finland, liable to assault seawards.
The Czar, whose activity is notorious, has visited Cron-
stadt, Orienbaum, and Helsingfors, for the purpose of
encouraging those employed on the works destined for
their defence. The corps of Guards and Grenadiers—the
first mustering 36,650 effective infantry, 13,290 cavalry,
with 2,000 sappers, 3,000 artillery, and 'll6 field-pieces ;
and the second the same number of infantry, sappers, and
artillery, with 5,728 cavalry and 112 field-pieces, or a total
of 73,000 elite infantry, 19,000 cavalry, 6,000 artillery, and
4,000 sappers, making a general total of 104,000 in round
numbers—are destined to garrison the strongholds from
Abo, in Finland, to the Gulf of Livonia. These will be
supported by the special Finland corps of 14,000 men, and
by the numerous veteran and garrison battalions called
"Inward Guard," of which:there are about six battalions,
of 1,000 men each, in the districts from St. Petersburg to
Riga inclusive; so that, at the smallest computation, the
effective force disposable between Abo and Riga amounts
to 120,000 men, with 260 field-pieces.
THE PACIFIC.

From Peru we learn that the ex-President had gone
south to join Domingo Elias ; and there was little doubt
that, when a junction of forces was effected, the revolu-
tionary party would succeed, and Castillo be proclaimed
President. It was supposed that if this change should
take place, a treaty of peace between Bolivia and Peru
would be arranged. The Mercurio of Valparaiso says
that General Belzu, finding himself unable to cope with
Peru on the sea, was disposed to issue letters of marque
to cruisers against Peruvian commerce, and adds that some
vessels had been already armed for this purpose.
In the Valparaiso markets there was no important
change. Copper continued firm, with an upward ten-
dency. Nitrate of soda scarce. Flour quiet, with sales at
$7.50 to $7.75. With reference to the important question
of a supply of coals in the Pacific, the Valparaiso Herald
says :—" A cargo of Lota, at $l2 placed in Iquique, and
two cargoes placed free on board ship at Lota, at $6, com-
prise the transactions for the fortnight in this article.
The proprietors of these mines have fixed the price of
delivery at the mines at $6 ; and steamers touching for
coal can safely call direct at Lota, touching at Talcahuano,
in accordance with Custom-house regulations, and supply
themes without first visiting Valparaiso. The agent
has i ctions to take no other price in such cases, and
to give steamers the preference, in filling up, over their
own or 'any other vessels. Draughts on agents in Valpa-
raiso will be received in payment. Buyers in California
can send vessels direct, with the same assurance."
GIBRALTAR.

The steam-ship Sultan arrived on Fridayat Southampton.
From Gibraltar we have accounts to the 18th inst. The
screw-steamer Orontes left Gibraltar for Liverpool on the
9th inst. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Euxine, 5 days 9 hours from Southampton, touched at
Gibraltar on the 10th, on her way to Malta and Alexandria.
The steamer British Queen, 6t days from Liverpool, arrived
on the 11th, and cleared for Constantinople. The steamer
Rajah reached Gibraltar on the 12th inst., from the Levant,
and cleared for Southampton. The screw-steamer Karnak,
8 days from Liverpool, arrived on the 15th inst., and sailed
for Malta and Smyrna.
THE WAR IN THE EAST.

One of the first consequences of the state of hostilities
now impending over Europe, and of the extensive arma-
ments which every government is more or less compelled
to make, is that large demands have already been addressed
to the money-lender. The French government has con-
trived to persuade the public that the loan of ten millions
sterling, which has just been opened, by public subscrip-
tion, is rather a boon than otherwise to the country. The
Austrian government has so far succeeded in improving
the aspect of its financial affairs, that a loan of five mil-
lions sterling has been taken up without much difficulty
in the empire ; and now the Prussian government, though
very much given to boast of the flourishing condition of
its finances, is driven to ask of the assembled Chambers
authority to contract a loan of thirty millions dollars, or
nearly five millions sterling. This incident is the more
important, inasmuch as it compels the Prussian cabinet to
make some statement to the country of the causes which
account for this demand ; and, accordingly, Baron Man-
teuffel has delivered a speech, in which he professes to
explain the views of the cabinet on the present foreign
relations of Prussia. The negotiations for a Turkish loan
were concluded on Wednesday with Messrs. Rothschild.
It is to be for £2,200,000 sterling in a six per cent. stock
at 85, redeemable in fifteen years.
A letter from Constantinople announces the departure
from Beicos of two French and English frigates, with
orders to enter the mouth of the Danube, with or without
the leave of the Russians, who seem inclined to close the
passage by a stockade.

The insurrection at Samos has been put down by the
presence of the French man-of-war brig the Mercure, in
support of the efforts of the garrison. Both are occupied
in the immediate restoration of order.
Advices from Constantinople of the 13th instant, an-
nounce that the tripartite treaty between the Porte and
England and France was signed on the 12th.
Fortifications on a large scale are in course of construc-
tion at Fokschany, a town on the common frontier of
Moldavia and Wallachia. An army of 3,000 men had been
formed there.

On the 2d an engagement took place opposite Braila,
where the Russians, attempting to cross the Danube to
destroy some works on the right bank, were vigorously
repelled by the Turks, and lost 120 in killed alone. Com-
bats are of daily occurrence, and grow more serious as
well as more frequent.