Washington sentinel., 1854-02-09
Foreign Items.

ENGLAND.-A correspondent Of the London
Times states that the wages given agricultural
laborers in Devonshire are rs. and 3 pints of in
ferior cider; but that some farmers have ad-
vanced Is. per week, but pay wages in trade.
The liabilities of Thompson, Brothers 4 Sons,
are supposed to be fl20,0O0.
The home secretary, in consequence of in
formation received, has addressed circular to
the mayors of all the towns of the Tyne and
Wear, inquiring if any steamers were building
within their knowledge for the Russian govern
ment.
The Times does not credit the rumor that
Russia has decided to reject the proposition of
the four powers; and it says: eve class
Austria, and Prussia together, in spite of the
petty jealousies which are perpetually rising
between them," partly "because both Of them
have much more to fear from rupture with
France and England, than from war with
Russia"
The entrance of the fleets into the Black sea
produced great terror in Russia. Admiral
Dundas has decided on not dispensing the ves-
sells Of the feet and entered the Black sea on
the 4th of January with the whole of his forces.
The Sandman frigate Eurydice sailed from
Plymouth on the 18th.
Rear admiral Sir James Stirling has been
appointed commanderin-ch chief of the East India
station, vice Sir Fleetwood B. R. Pelew.
A correspondent of the Times, writing from
Marseilles on the 18th, says: :" 1t was affirmed
at Constantinople that four companies had de-
serted from the Russian army and joined the
Turks at Kalafat."
The English and French, on their entrance
into the Black sea, were accompanied by FIVE
Turkish frigates and twenty vessels
RIoT IN SoMERsETsHIRE.-On the 18th a
large number of men and women assembled in
the borough of Taunton for the purpose of re-
the market, DESTROYED many articles of provi-
sions, and stoned the butchers stalls The
magistrates interfered and the mob dispersed.
Riots had also occurred at Forguay, Afculine,
Exeter, and Creditor, but were dispersed with
out trouble. In almost every case women and
children predominated over the men, and were
most active in destroying the property of their
neighbors.
The CossAcK. .s-A letter from Constantine
pie of the I'd, says 100 Cossacks from the
Azof arrived here two days since. They are
the descendants of those who fought against
Russia under the reign of Catharine /. The
Cossacks of the Kaban have always fought
with courage for Turkey. They brought their
ancient standard, and came equipped for a
campaign at their own expense
The Countess Radetsky, consort of Field
marshal Radetsky, died at Verona, on the 18th
ultimo.
\. RECRUITING FOR THE NAvY.-Her Majesty s
steamer Tartarus arrived at Kirkcaldy on Fri
day, for the purpose of taking on board re-
cruits. Such is said to be the enthusiasm in
this district at present, to take up arms against
the czar that several Of the recruits left their
peaceful avocations instanter, without "warn-
Ing" of any kind, and rushed on board the
Tartarus with the greatest enthusiasm. Her
Majestys cruiser leaves for Dundee.
Edinburgh FITNESS.
THE ARMY OF RussIA.-The Vienna cores
pondent of the London Times, writing on the
10th of January, says:
Some time since the Neue Preussische lei
tung attempted to terrify the western powers
by announcing that the Emperor of Russia,
having ordered the first and second levies'
to be made, the standing army would be some
100000 strong. The Gas learns from War
saw that the ignorance displayed by foreign
writers in respect to the organization Of
the Russian army is perfectly astonishing
Neither a first nor second levy is known in
Russia. Since the year 1848 the army has
always been on a war-footing, and on paper
amounts to 100000 men. We are further in
formed that owing to the enormous extent of
the empire, the concentration Of large body
of troops on any one point is always attended
with great difficulties, and the correctness of
this assertion cannot be questioned. Russia
was full half a year preparing for her Hunga-
rian expedition, and her movements during the
present war have been just as snail-like. The
Gas concludes with the following sentence !:
Owing to the indecision of the western
powers, Russia has had plenty Of time, and we
are here convinced that she will now advance
without finching towards the object which it is
her fixed purpose to attain"