Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-11
FROM OUR LoND ON CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, OCTOBER 10, 1854.

LONDON, OCTOBER 10, 1854.
Lead, the material of musket balls, is obviously
contraband of war; and yet the Prussian Govern
ment, while protesting to be neutral in the contest
now waging between Russia and the Western Pow
ers, openly sanctions the shipment of this article in
its ports for the use Of the Russian Government
This is tangible infraction of the Law of Nations,
which defines the rights and duties of neutras and
belligerents. This is however, not the only nor
by far the worst act of Prussia since the commence
ment of the present war; The port of Memel has
for months been the centre of an immense system
of smuggling, and is at present more Russian than
Prussan harbor and entrepot, for it exports little
except Russian produce. Ever since the war began
Russian fax and talow which used to be shipped Mt ST.
Petersburgh, Reve and Riga have been systematically
conveyed to Meme and there shipped under the Prus
sian other flags These transactions have not been
carried by bona de Prussian capitalists trading for
their profit but by the clerks and agents Of Russian
exporters. The whole is, as have said, gigantic
system Of smuggling for the benefit Of Russia sanctioned
by the Prussan Government but which is not of the
slightest advantage y the people of Prussia in general
For years the merchants and manufacturers Of Prussia
have been urging heavy and wel-grounded complaints
against the Russian Government Of obsructions placed
In the way of their trade with Russia in violation of
lemn treaties. None Of these grievances have been
application for redress the Government of st. Peters,
bugh The Western Powers however have to deal only
with the connivance Of the Psussan Government at the
systematic breaches of neutrality committed by the Meme
smugglers in furnishing the Russian Government with
supplies to enable it to protract tho war; in defiance Of
all the laws of neutrality and those of political right and
integrity which ought furnish the rules Of conduct to
civilized nations The French and English Governments
will not be doing justice to their respective nations if they
any longer permit this conduct of Prussia, as pro-
fessed neutral Power to pass unnotced The merchants
and manufacturers Of England and France have right
to complain that the Memel smugglers enjoy trade
which honest traders debarred from entering upon
The Prussian people, at the head Of German civi
zation the natural allies Of France and England
those champions of European civilization The people
of Prussia duty to themselves in the first place and
to all Europe in the second and that duty is to put an
end the subservency Of their Government the Court
Of Russia.
The nineteenth century is not the period for royalty to
try the patience Of people by continuance of or
hurtful policy. At this moment no less than five pre-
tenders to European thrones in the field upset
reigning dynases The throne Of France is claimed by
the Comte DE CHANBoRD and the Comte PARIs; that
of Spain by Count MoHTEMoLN that Of Portugal by Don
MIauEL and the sovereignty Of the Duke Of BnUHswIcK
is contested by his elder brother Again i've European
thrones at this moment occupied by Princes raised to
them in consequence Of revolutionary movements during
the lives Of their former occupants These five thrones
are those Of Austria, Baden, Bavaria Hesse and Sar
dnia To these lists Of threatened and in cases
unstable dynastes may add Naples upon whose crown
the Of Mura has eye and Sweden not hopelessy
renqushed by the house of Vasa. There is oil but
absolute quarrel commenced between the King Of Dem
mark and his people, and disputed succession may
cur at no distant day in Hostein.
The latest have from Vienna is that the bonn
bardment of Sebastopol commenced the 5th. To
inquire whether telegraphic message from Vienna
from ST. Petersburgh be the deserving Of credit
it is better heed neither the the other and
be equally Indifferent the teegraphic dispatches
ceived from the Sir John Aaandspe of the Times who
yesterday favored with third edition, announcing the
capture Of Sebasopo and the death Of Lord RAGLAN in
battle There is good authority, however, for asserting
that the preparations for the siege Of Sebsstopo
well advanced the 5tb that the water supply Of Se
bastopol in the hands Of the Allies and that their ad
vanced trenches within fifteen hundred yards Of the
forti6cations and further that Lord RAGLAN had been
made president Of the council Of 1t is also regard
cd highly improbable that the Russian general should
have received any additions to his army that he
be reinforced before the end Of the month.
The Allied fleets are on their way home from the Baltic
and active operations IN tnat quarter are und0uptedy
postponed until the spring of 1855 when they will
commence, should satisfactory peace have not been
previously conquered, with very much enlarged
and extended object.
The floating batteries in Of construction in Eng
land will be the most formidable projected They
forged or hammered iron plates, four and half
inches thick, lined inside with wood and will measure
about 500 TONS From actual experiment it has been
proved that they will be impervous to shot or she'll
dozen at least French and Engish) Of these floating
batteries will be in the Baltic next spring The consruc
ton of these engines Of is very difficult and expen
sive task.
During the now closing campaign in the Baltic much
has in reality been DONE The Gear has been humbed by
the fall Of Bomarsund the forti6caons Of which occu
pied several years in their construction at expense Of
than 000 900 sterling The forts at Hango have
they should fall into the hands Of the Allies. The coast
ing trade in the Baltic has been completely stopped by
the efficient blockade of the various ports These
results Of the first years campsgn to be followed up in
the spring by efficient The Russians are
evidently preparing for vigorous resistance to the Turks
Their garrsons from oil their strongholds in Podoa are
moving the Pruth. The garrisons along the line Of
that river doubled and strong is forming at
Bender II is reported that the Russians have given up
the plan Of defending any part Of the coast of the Black
Sea- and that they win only hold certain points SO long
they not attacked Should Sebastopol fall Pere
cop and every part Of the Crmea will be untenabe by the
Russians for they then be taken both in their right
flank and in 'front.' and thus the whole Of the peninsula