THE SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1854

Daily Southern Cross, Issue 730, 27 June 1854, Page 2

THE SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1854

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

Although we have London papers to the 12th of March, being eight days later than those last received, we can scarcely say that we have much later intelligence. The great demand made upon our space by the reports of the proceedings of our Colonial Parliament, necessarily compels us to condense our summary of events into the briefest possible compass. The first division of the English fleet sailed for the Baltic, from Portsmouth, on Saturday the 11th March, at 2 pm, Previous to its departure, Admiral -Sir 'Charles Napier received a highly complimentary address from the Mayor and Council of Portsmouth assembled to meet hhn in the Guildhall, which was densely crowded on the occasion. The address spoke in terms of confident reliance of the gallant admiral being enabled to lead the mighty armament he was about to command, to some great and gloiious victory against the common enemy of Europe. Sir Charles begged to be excused for being brief in his reply. He returned his most heartfelt thanks. He must be afloat and away to sea. He begged of them not to expect too much. All thaf could, would be done. Much was expected from this fleet, and he thought it would do something. He would do his best to prevent the British flag from being tarnished. But they were going to meet no common enemy ; they were going to meet one well prepared. The fleet under his command was well equipped and efiicient, but it was newly formed ; steam .had also materially changed the tactics of war ; stiU he was sure 'that every officer and man would do his duty well and thoroughly. Almost immediately upon leaving the Guildhall, Sir Charles walked down the High-street, and, like Lord Nelson in 1805, embarked amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the surrounding thousands. At the Victoria Pier, he was greeted with the enlivening music of the beautiful band of -the 42nd Highlanders, and encouragingly addressed by the -Chairman and directors, who bid his watchword ever be " England and Victory." Arrived at Spithead, with his flag at the ' Duke of Wellington's' maot head, her Majesty and Prince Albert in the ' Fairy\passed through the fleet, the ships manning their yards, thundering forth their royal salutes, and rending the air with their cheers.' The Captains of the ships, by signal to that effect, paid a brief visit to her Majesty's yacht. At 1. 30 p.m., the signal to weigh was made. The ' St. Jean dAcre and the ' Tribune' were the first to get away ; and by '4 p.m., the whole fleet were out of sight, her Majesty having kept them company as far as the Nab. The first division which had thus sailed, mounts 1,047 guns, is propelled by a steam power of 6,970 horses, with a force of 10,251 men. It was to be followed immediately by a succession of powerful ships — Other splendid ships were preparing to .be launched.; and nineteen ships were ordered to be brought forward for the pendant with the utmost expedition .at Portsmouth. Nor were the French remiss in -their preparations. At Toulon 10,000 men were at work night and day fitting out eight sail of the line and three steamers to increase the Baltic fleet. Five sail of the line, two steam-frigates, and a corvette, under the command of Admiral Bruat. passed Gibraltar on the 15tb February, bound for Toulon and Algiers, to embark a portion of the French Auxiliary Army, which is stated will exceed 100,000 men. The first division of 36,000 men was ready for embarkation The embarkation of British troops was proceeding actively. In addition to those we formerly mentioned, qbe 4th regt., embarked at Leith on the Bth Blarch, on board the ' Golden Fleece,' and sailed for Malta next day. On the 10th the 77th regt., 800 strong, embarked in the ' Kangaroo' for the same destination. The 19th regt., was to embark at Southampton on the 14th. The Ist (Royals) from Plymouth on the 20th, and the 7th company of the Royal Sappers and Miners, under the command of Captain Gibb, had embarked at Woolwich, in the screw steam-ship ' Hope' on the 10th. The following regts., were also under orders for the East :— 7th, 21st, 23rd, 30th, 38th, 42nd, 47th, 55th, 63rd, 79th, 88th, and 97th. It was considered that there was not the slightest prospect of preserving peace. The messenger conveying to the Czar, the ultimatum of France and England, passed through Vienna on the 7th March. Austria was increasing her armaments, but whilst acknowledging the justice of the views of France and England, in maintaining the integrity of the Turkish empire, she was not disposed to break with the Czar. Prussia was exhibiting a strong determination to remain neutral. The King of Denmark was strongly inclined to ally himself with Russia, but the nation were in favour of neutrality. The Czar had intimated to Sweden and Norway that he would not permit them to remain neutral ; 10,000 land-wehr had in consequence been sent to strengthen the garrison of Gothland,

whilst 4 Swedish line-of-battle-ships, 6 frigates, and 4 steamers, in addition to the Norwegian contingent, would be ready for action, at the breaking up of the ice. Such is the antipathy of the Norwegians to Russia, that - according to the report of the ' Hecla/ surveying steamer, they had expressed their willingness to man fifteen British linc-of-battle-ships with their finest seamen. In London the Russo-Fin seamen were deserting the Russian merchant ships en masse. Sardinia also is arming j and it is significantly stated, that a member of the Fiench cabinet would be pleased at the defection of Austria and Prussia from the Western alliance; as from that defection he could discover some good for Italy and other oppressed states. There can, we conceive, be no doubt that such a course upon the part of the German States, would be materially instrumental to the revolutionizing of Europe, and the bursting the bonds under which Poland, Hungary, and Italy, have so long and so deplorably languished. Active aggression was, on all sides, for the moment suspended. The lull preceding the outhurst of the tempest had ensued. The Russian fleets lay ice-bound in the Baltic, and blockaded in the ports of the Black Sea. The Russian armies instead of storming, were retiring from Kalafat. The French and English fleets were ready to sweep the Euxine, and the Circassians, on the alert to descend from their mountain fastnesses. Europe was in short, one vast store-house of combustibles. And many weeks cannot elapse without the commencement of an appalling stniirsrle.