SUMMARY OF ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 189, 23 August 1854, Page 1

SUMMARY OF ENGLISH NEWS.

The Danube. — The accounts from the Danube verify the reports in circulation as to the designs of Russia, and distinctly prove that the Emperor was secretly maturing his plans and preparing for the invasion of Turkey, while he was lulling the Courts of Europe by affecting to receive new proposals, and by pretending to make fresh proposals himself. The first authentic information of an open movement of the troops in the Principalities came direct from Belgrade in a letter dated March 27, by which it appeared that on the 15th Prince Gortsehatkoff had endeavoured to possess himself of an island on the Danube opposite Turtukai. They occupied a bridge which they had recently built from the main land to the island, when by the incessant and well directed fire of the Turks the bridge was destroyed, and carried away, with the whole of the troops that were upon it, by the force of the stream. The loss of the Russians on this occasion was estimated at 2000 killed, while the Turks, sheltered by their iutrenchments, suffered scarcely any loss. The failure of this operation was followed on the 23rd by a more important movement which appears to have proved entirely successful. On that day 35,000 Russians crossed the river from Brailow to Matschin, General Liiders having left Galatz and marched to the spot to protect the passage. According to other reports, no Jess than 50,000 troops crossed, and General Liiders had formed the siege of Matschin, in itself an inconsiderable fortress, but protected by field-works thrown up by the Turkish engineers. We learn also that another detachment <of Russians had passed the river at Ismail, and occupied Tultscha, the tSle dv pont of that Russian fortress. It appears that Omer Pacha had all along been fully prepared for an attack on the Dobrudscha, that tract of land which lies between the Danube aud the Black Sea, near the mouth of the river; and it is evident that the movement of the Russians upon Turtukai was designed for the purpose of preventing the Turkish general from reinforcing his lieutenant

in the Dobrudscba. In that design they were foiled ; but they carried the more important object of effecting the passage of the stream, which gives them an immense advantage in all future operations. The scene of contest being thus shifted, the garrison at Kalafat was no longer available at that remote point, and orders were giren for a general advance of the troops. In the meantime it appears that, while these operations were in progress, the Russians suffered! a defeat before Kalafat, the particulars of which have not reached us. They then finally evacuated Lesser Wallachia, for the purpose of concentrating their strength .upon Bucharest. Flying rumours, at first discredited, have been circulated that Silistria was bom« barded ; and we now learn that the place had been vigorously attacked, but had resisted with success. The loss of the Russians is said to have been considerable. It was expected that they would renew the attack on the Ist of May with 30,000 men.

The last important intelligence from the Danube conveys' Statements of further disasters to the enemy. Omer Pacha is said to have pushed on with 70,000 men towards the Dobrudschaon the 18th and 19th uk., and to have given battle to Liklers' corps' between Silislria and Kassova. During the previous night he despatched a division in the direction of the Black Sea, and when the battle was at it's height the next day, these troops, falling on the rear of the Russians, produced a degree.of consternation that determined the fate of the day. The Russians retreated towards Czernavoda, and are said to have suffered considerable loss in guns and stores. A flying Turkish corps crossed below Silistiia on the 20th ult., to destroy the Russian strand batteries, but were obliged to relinQuish ,the..attempt after some-desperate.lighting. The Russian batteries, ac the SuTiriartnouai of the Danube, are said to have been bombarded by part of the fleet; but tLis report, although not improbable, requires confirmation..

The Black Sea.—Bombaedmentiof Odessa. —Of the proceedings of the combined fleets in the Black Sea, some accounts have at last been received. The Furious, war steamer, had been ordered to Odessa, to bring- away the British Consul, and sent a boat on shore with a flag of truce. The officer in charge was not permitted to land, and on his return to his ship the boat was fired into by the batteries. For this act of treachery, abundant satisfaction has been since enforced. According to the Russian report of what followed, the English and French admirals demanded the surrender of the Russian ships in the port of Odessa, and this being refused, the city was bombarded by 18 ships. Our own account, received direct|through Vienna, states that the number of ships of the combined squadron engaged in this operation was only twelve, that a terrific cannonade ensued which lasted for 10 hours, during which the fortifications, batteries, and military magazines were destroyed, two powder magazines blown up, and twelve Russian ships were sunk. Thirteen vessels, laden with munitions of war, were afterwards taken. Having accomplished their object, the two fleets weighed anchor early on the morning of the 26th ult., and took their departure for Sebastopol.

The Baltic.—The squadron of observation under the command of Admiral Plumridge, having discovered some Russian vessels near the Gulf of Finland, despatched a notification of the fact to Sir Charles Napier, whose ships were then lying in Kioge Bay. Immediately upon receiving this information, the fleet departed, and at the date of the last intelligence were off Gothland. In the meanwhile, the first prizes, marking the opening of hostile operations, had been seized in the Baltic by Admiral Plumridge,consisting, according to one account, of seven merchant vessels, elsewhere stated to be five, with many prisoners. The former number appears to be correct, as we subsequently

learn from Copenhagen, under the date of the 18th ult., that seven merchant prizes were in Kioge Bay. It appears also that four Russian vessels, laden with cargo, had been captured in the Baltic on the 17th, ult-, and were carried past Copenhagen on the following day, on their way to London. Since that date several prizes have .been taken, not only in the Baltic, but in our own waters; and every day adds to their number. Greek Inscjeeection.—The insurrection in Greece is likely to lead to serious complications, which become graver every day. The Sultan having demanded of the Greek Government that it should openly pronounce itself against the revolutionary movement, and take effectual measures to punish the offenders, and having received an unsatisfactory answer —the Government being, in fact, either incapable of suppressing the insurrection, or unwilling to interfere with it—all diplomatic relations have been broken off between the two States ; the Greek Consuls have been ordered to quit the Ottoman territories. This is a state of affairs which England, as one of the three protecting.powers, cannot permit to continue; and Lord Clarendon has already announced to the Government of King Otho that England and France, while engaged in deJending the Ottoman territory against Russian aggression, cannot tolerate that the Greek subjects of the Sultan should be excited to rebel against his authority, under the direct sanction of the Greek Government, and that they are accordingly concerting measures such as the necessity of the occasion demands. It is hardly necessary to indicate what these measures are. There is but one mode of crushing this dangerous insubordination, and there is no doubt it will speedily be put into force.

.-.--; EjeiaNjCß,—The Tiipst stixriiig event, perhaps, also the most important in a political point of view, has been the reception given by the French government and people to the Duke of Cambridge and Lord Raglan, who might be said to be the representatives of England ou the occasion. Early on the morning of the 11th of April, the Duke of Cambridge and Lord Raglan, accompanied by a numerous suite of English officers/arrived in Paris. The Minister at War and the English, ambassadors were in waiting to receive them. A guard of honour of the Gendarmerie D'Elite was stationed at the terminus, and the court carriages were in attendance ; they were shortly after conveyed to the Tuileries witli an escort from the regiment of the Guides. The party were cheered through the streets by the crowds which assembled in front of the British Embassy, and followed to the palace with cries of" Vivent les Anglais." It was believed that the Duke was the bearer of a letter from Queen Victoria to the Emperor Napoleon. In the evening the illustrious party dined with their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of the French ; after which they proceeded to the Grand Opera, to witness the representation of Vesiale and the ballet of Jovita. " God save the Queen" was performed by the band, the audience standing uncovered ; at the close of which the anthem was loudly encored amidst repeated cries of "Vivent les Anglais!" "Vive I'Empereurl" The whole scene was animating in the extreme, for nothing like it bad been -witnessed before. Next day the grand review in honour of the Duke of Cambridge took place in the Champ de Mars. A.t 12 o'clock the various corps of the army of Paris debouched from the bridge of Jena and the avenue of the Mothe Piquet, and took up their position on the ground. The total force under arms could not be less than 25,000. At half past 12 o'clock the Empress issued from the gates of the Tnileries in an open carriage, preceded by outriders, accompanied by the ladies of the Court, and followed by another open carriage with the officers of her household, and passed slowly along the quays of t,he Tuileries, and the quay Billy to the

bridge ol Jena, which her Majesty crossed and "ivceeded to the Grand Stand hi ihe Champ de

•tins, where she and her attendants took their jJaees. At 1 o'clock the Fmperor made his appearance ai ihe bridge ol Jena. He had on h'.s risjht hand the Duke of Cambridge, and on the left Lord Baa-lan, followed by a numerous stall", composed of Enylish and French officers in lull dress. As they made their appearance on the Changs de Mars, the drums beat to amis, and the bands struck up " God save the Queen" and " Purtant pour la Syne," which were alternately played; and cries of" Vive PEmpereur," aiid " Vivent les Anglais," were heard. The Emperor and the Duke of Cambridge rode in front of the line, the former occasionally conversing with his Royal Highness, and the attention of the foreign officers was engaged in examining, not perhaps without admiration, the gallant appearance of the troops. After the review the troops resumed the position they first occupied on the ground, and when the Emperor passed, on his return to the Tuileries, the infantry on the right, the cavalry on the left presented arms to his Majesty. About a quarter to four the whole were oil their return to their respective quarters. Im- ; mense crowds filled the sloping embankments < on both sides of the Champ de Mars, and in front of the Ecole Militaire. The quays on both sides of the river were covered with spectators, and the carriages of every description on the ground were numerous. In the course of the ten days our countrymen spent in Paris, every day brought something new. Driven about in imperial carnages; dining with the Emppror, and M. Drouyn de 'Lhuys; visiting | and inspecting the barracks of the Regiment of Guides, to the Louvre, to the Opera, and to the i grand waterworks at Versailles. "Partant pour la Syrie" alternated with " God save the Queen;" and " Vivent les Anglais!' blended with " Vive I'Empeieur!" The Empress gave them a fete at the Elysee, newly, hurriedly, but magnificently decorated for the occasion. The Moniteur further announces that all the French naval stations have recently been reinforced, and sets down the French naval force j afloat at 56,000 men. It is added, that "on j her side England has equal forces." It has been reported, that in consequence of recent despatches from Constantinople, France will send 150,000 men to Turkey. APSTBTA & PRUSSIA.—A rumour prevailed in -j London, that the Prussian minister at our court, Chevalier Bunsen, was about to be recalled. The Queen is said to have asked the minister whether it was true, when he replied, " I have received no such information, but when I cease to be the minister of Prussia, I become oue of your Majesty's most faithful subjects." It is curious enough that a few days realised this transformation. Chevalier Bunsen has not been recalled; but protesting against the predominance of Russian influence in the Councils of Prussia, he has transmitted his resignation to Berlin. A treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, bas been concluded between Austria and Prussia. A similar treaty has been entered into be- j tvveen England and France. It is exclusively limited to the war with reference to Turkey, and does not provide for any ulterior results. Constantinople, May 5. —Prince Napoleon arrived here on Monday, and is staying at the late Sultan's Mother's palace on the Bosphorus. On the Tuesday the Sultan returned his highness' visit, which as it is the first time the Grand Signor ever visited a Giaour, has created considerable sensation. Parliament was adjourned on the 11th ult. over the Easter holidays to the 27th. In moving the adjournment, Lord John Russell took occasion to withdraw the reform bill. The scene in the House while the minister was stating the grounds on which he abandoned his measure at the risk of destroying his character as a statesman, was one of the most striking and impressive that ever was witnessed within the walls of Parliament. The first reason was the absolute indifference manifested about the bill throughout the country. Hardly a single petition was transmitted to Parliament in its suppoit; few or no public meetings were held to discuss its provisions; and a general lull seemed to have followed its announcement. A minister who has to carry a measure of this nature through two reluctant Houses must be tustained out of doore, or he works under a

discouragement that will prove fatal alike to his efforts and his success. The difficulty was felt deeply by the members of the administration ; but'it would not have been sufficient in itself to have occasioned the withdrawal of the bill, if a still greater difficulty had not accompanied it. The second obstacle was the war. Ministers wisely selected the only course they could pursue with credit or advantage; and abandoned the bill rather than risk being obliged to abandon their sovereign on the threshold of a war in which they had advised her to embark.

So far as the Government at large was concerned, this proceeding was simply a choice between public duty and party obligation ; and the decision of the administration has received the sanction of universal approbation. But so far as Lord John Russell was implicated, there was a possibility that faction might impute it to that political insincerity which unscrupulous opponents are always so ready to ascribe on such occasions. He was himself apprehensive of such imputations. He felt that a long life of patriotic exertion, and a character unstained and irreproachable, might be sacrificed at that instant to a base and unworthy suspicion. Under that impression he spoke with a degree of feeling and emotion that at last entirely overcame him ; and towards the close of his speech, when, anticipating the probability of such a. result, his utterance gave way, his voice was choaked, and his eyes filled with tears, the aspect presented by the House of Commons will never be forgotten. The cheers with which he was greeted, and the expressions of confidence that followed, cordially and generously repeated alike by Conservatives and Radicals, showed not only that Ministers were right in withdrawing the bill, but that the sacrifice personally made by Lord John Russell at this trying crisis was fully and justly appreciated.