THE SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1854.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XI, Issue 722, 30 May 1854, Page 2

THE SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1854.

LUCEO NON URO. "If I have been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacons trom the snaifr I bore."

As we, some time since, ventured to surmise, the 'Marmora' bas brought us, from Sydney, the English mails to the Bth March, received by the steamer ' Madras.' Their contents are not only exceedingly important, but especially interesting. Such, however, is the crowded state of our columns from an unusual pressure of our own local politics, that we can do no more than present our readers with a faint outline of the exciting aspect of European affairs. War had not been actually declared, but France and England were making the most stupendous preparations for an immediate and gigantic encounter. Several battalions of the guards, the 28th, 3ord, 93rd, Kifles, aud other regiments had embarked for the East, and other regiments were in a forward state. The British contingent of the An<rloFranco army was to amount to 25,000 men That of France to three times the number. The English cavalry destined for Constantinople was to consist of the Scots Greys, Carabineers, Guiskillens, Bth and 11th Hussars, and 17th lancers. The Duke of Cambridge was to command the cavalry, as&isted by General Brothorton, and Lord Cardigan. A splendid artillery force was to be dispatched, and all the troops were to be furnished with the Minie rifle. The chief command of the expedition was to be confided to Lord Raglan, better known as Lord Fitzroy Somerset Four steamers of the General Screw, three of the Peninsular and Oriental, two of Cunards, and one of the Australian Company have been taken up as transports. The Emu, which, in the Sydney papers, was advertised as about to make an excursion to all the New Zealand settlements, has been similarly employed. Indeed, the establishment of the Panama line by the Pacific Company appears to be extremely problematical, the French Government having made an offer to purchase all their ships. Recruits for both Navy and Array were easily obtainable. In Dublin, the Recruiting Serjeant was one of the greatest lions of the day. The Baltic Fleet, under the command of Sir Charles Napier, with that able and distinguished Officer Admiral Chads as his second, was all but ready at Spithead ; it numbered 30 of the finest ships England ever sent to sea, the whole mounting 2,010 heavy guns. The French squadron was expected to join, and the whole, it was said, would be reviewed by the Queen. The Czar had answered the letter of the French Emperor in a most false, hypocritical, and (for the preservation of peace) hopeless strair. He had, likewise, issued a War .Manifesto to his people— one calculated to excite their fanaticism to the highest pitch. The Czar had used every means to overawe Denmark and Sweden, but those Powei-3 had resolved, at all hazard*, to maintain their neutrality. # Austria and Prussia had declared that if Russia should attempt to cross the Danube, they

would consider it tantamount to a declaration of war. England and France had given to the Czar six days in which to evacuate the Principalities. Failing in compliance they would forthwith declare war. The April mail will be exceedingly interesting. Pardons have been granted to Smith OBrien, Martin, O'Doherty, Frost, Williams, and Jones. An insurrection, attended with some success, and aided by Russian intrigue, had broken out in Greece. And the Czar had threatened Austria with the erection of a Kingdom in Poland, if she ventured any " untoward " measure in his dispute. The chivalrous Marquis of Londonderry, Sir John Conroy, and the Bishop of Salisbury, are no more. The Egraonfc, 767 tons, sailed with troopsand cargo for^Auckland in February ; and .the Eclipse, 393 tons, (in lieu of the Lady Ebrington,) on the Ist of March. Tire Norman Morrison, Moundrel, sailed for Wellington, Canterbury, and Auckland on the 4th of March from Gravesend. The Cashmere, Pearson, was advertised for Auckland and New Plymouth, to sail in March ; and the new ship, of 1500 tons, building for H. Willis & Co. by the Messrs. Fletcher, for the same destination in April.