The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-08-01 00:00:00

THE WAR.

ANOTHER. DECLARATION OP NET/TRALITY.—The King
of the Sandwich Islands has issued a proclamation of
neutrality as regards the pending European war._
__

THE RUSSIAN FLEET IN THE PACIFIC.—The following
is an extract of a letter received by a mercantile house in
London, dated San Francisco, June 15 :--" The Russian
fleet will do considerable mischief in the Pacific before
they are caught, and we ought to have a much more
powerful fleet here to look after them. We shall hear of
their ships destroying some of our settlements in Aus-
tralia,,or_evenzSingapore, or capturing same of the vessels

bound to Englandwith treasure. The vessels in South
American ports, and at the Sandwich Islands, gave us the
slip before it was officially known that war was declared,
and I have no doubt that they will join the Russian fleet
which lately visited Japan, at some appointed rendezvous."
THEATRICALS lii THE BLACK SEA.—On the 28th ult.,
Lord George Panlet, the commander of the Bellerophon,
gave a theatrical representation on board his ship, under
the patronage of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge. For him was reserved the seat of honour, an arm
chair in the front row, which included all the great folks
within hail of Varna. The ship was rigged into a theatre
in the most ingenious way. The scenery was good and
well managed, the ladies' parts being taken by midship-
men and boys of the ship. Two of the pieces were " The
Lottery Ticket" and " Diamond cut Diamond," both of
which (the latter especially) were most admirably per-
formed. As interludes, there were Ethiopian serenaders,
&c., and pieces performed by the splendid band of the
ship. The audiences, which consisted of some 200 officers,
were of course greatly delighted with the entertainment,
ularly as it was concluded by a most excellent
the usual profuse style of hospitality
army are so much his lordship's

more part Ci

substantial rppi

for which the -En4lisi

debtors
MOUSTACHES.—The following circular has been issued
in Portsmouth garrison :—" Horse Guards, July 21.—
Circular Memorandum.—A large part of the army being
employed in Turkey, where it has been found beneficial to
keep the upper lip unshaven, and allow the moustaches to
grow, the General Commanding-in-Chief is pleased to
authorize that practice in the army generally, subject
to the following regulations, which are to be strictly
obeyed in home and colonial service :—A clear space of two
inches must be left between the corner of the mouth and
the whisker, when whiskers are grown ; the chin, the
under lip, and at least two inches of the upper part of the
throat must be clean shaven, so that no hair can be seen
above the stock in that place. The wearing of the mous-
tache is to be optional with all ranks. The troops serving
in the East will be allowed such further latitude in respect
to shaving their beards and whiskers as the general
officer commanding that army may deem it expedient to
sanction during the continuance of that service.—By com-
mand, G. Cathcart, A.G."
NEw UNIFORMB.—It is said that the new dress for the
infantry of the line has been at last finally determined
on :—" The present cap will be replaced by a shako, very
light in regard to weight, soldier-like and graceful in ap-
pearance, not unlike the cap of years back. The small
ball, the substitute for the feather, will be retained, and
the number will be conspicuously displayed. Speaking as
we are, of course, of the officers' uniform, the coat will be
in the shape of a tunic, or frock, scarlet in colour, and
double-breasted, with the facings of the regiment. The
collar will be low and open, with embroidered gold lace in
heraldic crowns and stars, showing the rank of the officer.
The shoulder-belt and breast-plate will be discontinued.
In lien thereof, there will be a white patent leather waist-
belt, with gilt ornaments in front. Epaulettes and sash
will be abolished. The black trousers will be continued
for the winter, and bluish texture for the summer. The
Guards, so long free from innovation, will, it is stated,
soon undergo a change in uniform. The cavalry uniform
patterns have not yet been sealed. It is supposed the
change in the latter will be on a limited scale."—Globe.

A HINT TO THE ADMIRALS.—The Shipping Gazette
says :—" With all their ostensible fortifications, we believe
the capture of the whole of these Russian forts in America
and Kamschatka is within the power of a couple of fri-
gates, aided by one or two war steamers. They are
neither properly fortified nor efficiently garrisoned ; the
possibility of any serious attack by an organised naval
force having probably never entered into the minds of the
commandants—their very isolation and insignificance
having, doubtless, lulled them into a false security. The
next mail or two from California, or the Isthmus, may,
therefore, be looked forward to with interest, as resulting
in not merely the announcement of the commencement
of the blockade, but the capture of Sitka, and one or two
of the Russian frigates. H. M. steam-sloop Argus had
arrived at Aspinwall on the 24th of June, and left next
day for Jamaica, to convoy the mail steamer Dee, as two
privateers were said to be lurking about in those latitudes.
H.M.S. Devastation was expected to convoy the Teviot,
West India steamer, on her homeward trip."
The Press of Saturday says :
" We announced in our last number the retirement of
his Excellency Comte Walewsky from the French Embassy
at the Court of St. James's. A serious misunderstanding
with M. Dronyn de L'Huys on a subject of paramount
delicacy and importance is alleged as the cause of an
incident which will be much regretted in this country.
We have now to announce that the retirement of another
diplomatic character from our court may speedily be
expected. His Excellency Admiral Virgin, Minister of
the King of Sweden, is about to conclude his too short
residence amongst us.

"The negociations between this country and Sweden
are, at the present moment, and have been for some time,
of a critical character. Her Majesty's Government have
proposed to the Swedish Government to subsidise a Swedish
army for the attack of Finland. His Majesty the King of
Sa eden has evinced an unexpected indisposition to re-
annex Finland to his crown, but has communicated a
counter project to Her Majesty's Government for the
guaranteed independence of that country. It appears
that the British Government, sufficiently embarrassed
already with the guarantees of Belgium and Prussian
Saxony, hesitates ; and that some members of the Cabinet,
involved already with the possible contingencies both of
subsidies and guarantees, tremble at the abyss they are
approaching.

h We do not feel at liberty to discuAs at present how far
the recal of the Swedish Minister from our court arises
from this imbroglio.

" The Austrian Government has positively declared that
its occupation of the Principalities is incompatible with
the presence either of a Turkish force, or of the allied
armies, in those Provinces. Thus it recurs to its project
of armed mediation.

".We h,ave reason to believe that, in consequence of
urgent intelligence, of a peculiar nature, received at the
Admiralty, Admiral Stopford will be dispatched imme•
diately to the Black Sea, and has, perhaps, already
departed for that quarter.

SIR CHARLES NAPIER'S OPERATION IN THE

BALTIC,

The correspondent of the Times says : Since the return
of the Anglo-French fleet to Baro Sound, there is little
to communicate respecting it. An important circum-
stance, however, relative to its future operations, is gene-
rally accredited. This refers to an attack on Aland, in
the Gulf of Bothnia, which was contemplated some three
months since, but not carried into effect, owing to the
want of troops to co-operate with the maritime forces.
Information has been received by the last mail from
England, that several thousands of English and French
troops are ordered to the Baltic, and on their arrival the
reduction and occupation of Bomarsund, the most strongly
fortified of the Aland Isles, will be effected. It is assumed,
not upon slight grounds, that on taking possession of this
important position the Swedes will speedily unite with the
Allied Powers, and they are, it is said, only waiting for a
decisive blow being struck to send a large body of troops
to act in concert with the allies. The Penelope returned
from Faro Sound on the 11th, with four collier brigs
deeply laden. Soundings in the vicinity of the Warren
Rock were taken by several ships, which have led to the
discovery of some shoals not previously known. The
Lightning sailed to the eastward. The Bulldog left for
Copenhagen on the 13th, and the Majestic, 80, Captain
Jas. Hope, for a cruise off Gottska Saudo. In this ship
the cholera has prevailed to a great extent, and it has been
necessary to detach her for a time, in the hope that its
further progress may be arrested. In the other ships it is
disappearing rapidly, no fresh cases having occurred for
several days. The Amphion, 36, Captain A. C. Key,
arrived in Baro Sound on the morning of the 17th, after
an absence from the fleet of several weeks, during which
period she has been cruising off Memel, and captured
several of the enemy's vessels. Rear-Admiral Plum-
ridge, in the Leopard, with the Valorous and Odin,
is cruising among the Aland Isles. On leaving Baro
Sound the allied squadron will proceed up the Gulf of
Bothnia, reconnoitering Bomarsund. The signal " Prepare
for sailing to-morrow" has just been made, most probably
to cruise off the entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia until the
arrival of the French troops. The Dauntless, 33, Captain
Ryder, is expected daily to arrive from England.
The Morning Herald has published the following tele-
graphic despatch, dated Dantzic, July 27 :—" The Hecla
and Valorous have cannonaded Bomarsund, without loss
to either vessel. The Valorous got ashore, but got off,
though with considerable damage. The English and
French admirals are at Ledsund. Rear-admiral Martin
is at Helsingfors. Rear-admiral Corry goes home sick, in
the Dauntless. Rear-admiral Plumridge, with the block-
ships and paddles, at Bomarsund. The Nicolai arrived on
Thursday.
The following telegraphic despatch, dated Dantzic,
Thursday, has been published :—" The transport boat
Nicolai, Captain Hunter, has arrived, having left Bard
Sound on the 25th. There were then three ships at
Bard Sound, eight cruising between Helsingfors and
Cronstadt. The rest were near the Aland group. No
cases of cholera had occurred since last we heard from the

fleet."
A telegraphic despatch, dated Copenhagen, Wednesday,
says, " Yesterday, two French sailing line-of-battle ships
and two sailing frigates, supposed to have troops, artillery,
and ammunition on board, were towed through the Belt.
General Baraguay d'Hilliers sailed to-day for the Baltic
in the Reine Hortense." _

The correspondentoi the Daily News, in a letter dated

Baro Sound, July 18, says, "The Lightning was despatched
on the evening of the 11th, with a flag of truce to Helsing-
fors, with the view of entering into a negotiation for the
liberation of prisoners. The men, taken in the Vulture's
paddle-box boat, are now there. The Lightning, when
within about two miles and a half, was warned by three
blank guns from the fortress, to bring np, and stand to
some distance off the port ; she accordingly anchored, a boat
was lowered, and Captain Sullivan pulled in towards the
harbour. This boat was met by another from the Russian
flag-ship, having the flag-lieutenant on board. Captain
Sullivan was accompanied by an interpreter (belonging to
the foreign-office), who is doing duty as such, and borne
in the flag-ship for this service. The Russian officer
would not speak Sclavonic, but his scanty conversation
was maintained in French, probably with the view of not
allowing his boat's crew to know what was taking place.
This officer bore the commander-in-chief's despatch to the
Russian authorities, and at two a.m. a post-captain, in a
small steamer, returned with a letter in reply. During
the interview the Russian officers adopted the ignoring
principle relative to every question put to them, refused
any information, even about how the prisoners were get-
ting on ; but their bearing was most gentlemanlike, cour-
teous, and full of respect."
The Alban arrived at Baro Sound from Port Baltic on
the 7th, where she has been surveying. While there she
landed a party under a flag of truce, when several officers
of the Imperial Guard came down to the beach and smoked
cigars with them in the most friendly manner. They ap-
peared a very intelligent and gentlemanly set of fellows,
and when invited on board consented to come, but the
general in command would not allow them. The fortifica-
tions round Revel have been very' much strengthened ; the
people along the coast are inclined to be exceedingly civil
and friendly on all occasions.