The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-12


From the Panama star, July q
The prospect Of a naval engagement between the
Russian and ADelo-ETench forces ia the Pacific,
appears to excite good deal of attention in Europe
at the present time, and it is generally supposed
that either the American coast, near 6itka, or the
Asiatic side, near Kamtschatka, will be the spot
where the rival forces win meet.
We arc not well informed as TO the number Of
Russian vessels of In the Pacific. but they can
not be very numerous.
In March last, the frigate Pallas, the corvette
Olivant the transport Price, Menschicoff, and the
tender voslosk left Manila, as it was supposed,
for Batavia, but IL Is now corje tured that they
sailed for Kamtschatka. The frigates Aurora and
Diana were last heard Of at the Sandwich Islands,
and there Is said to be one or two vessels cruising
in the South Pacific.
At Knmtschstka it ia reported the Russians have
fourteen vesselsof war and ut Sitka few vessels,
which late writer In q London paper says are from
100 to 800 tons, generally condemned old briggs sold
on sh ao the se o. aoo men
1.-TWO screw fngates ought to driye them out at
once" s.t-s
OF the allied forces, we know that the President
and the La Fort now somewhere In the north;
the Pique figate, and tho virago and Tfincomalee
STEAMERS, be opRibg to the Pacific strtion, and the
French vessels Of L'Obligsdo and Eurydice are also
cruising la tie north.
Bitten, 12 was at Foochoo; the Comus IA at
Wbampoa and The Styx steamer at Amboy; and the
Winchester, so, as HONG Kong: the Encounter
ftsamer. "A, and Grscisp, brig, IL, at Shanghai.
AZ The end Of April, strong naval fov 50 was cot
Iectirg at singapore, vhere we're assembled the
Spartan, 90 the sloop Rapid &, and Lily 16 steam
sloop Barracouta, G, and the screw steamer Rather
III guns The SybilIe ffiSste IS, and Saracen sloop
6, were also daily expected as well as French
corvette and a war steamer. The French vessel of
war Constsntinc ffigate and the Colbert, ascaner
6,werc also on the look out for the Russians in the
Yellow Sea, being stationed al Shanghae and
Nipppo. na slsnI
The French have also got a strong force a, Tahiti
and in The South Pacific, that there seems very
little prosI ect of tic Russians being able to do much
injury TO british and Frepch trade In these waters
and u h more than probable that the same course
will be pursued here in te Baltic and Black Seas
and the Russian ships place Themselves under the
protection Of their fonts. zs a. SIS aea5s cIt ts
THE CAPTURE OF A RUSSIAN BARK.
On the evening previous 10 the departure Of the
Valoiyia from Valparaiso an English bgiy arrived,
bringing word that Russian bar from Havana vas
outside the port. Tic French steamer PhQquc,
Commander dc Rosis, that arrived on tine 18TH June
from Tahiti disabled with Icss OF bovSprs and ruu
der, and her machinery ont az order. was the only
vessel Of war in port, and though she was sthl 10
1isabed state ara had only just shipped her Yud-
| der sbs got under way and went out TO take hcY.
being absenta few hours aud fears having been en-
teytained that she was not in position to tow he
r,izc the yaIdiyia was sent out 10 her assistance,
and on stehming short distance to the south, 81
/ tsw the Phcuue with the prize in tow and Che
\ French flag AyiDg at her masthead. She ~as q
4 btig &C about 500 tons, and has been a<out fem
months on the voyage 'rom dsyaaa-