EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 190, 26 August 1854, Page 6

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

A letter from the Baltic, of the 25th April, in the Moniteur, says:.—''The thaw of the Neva is expected in two days. The ice has already broken up in the Gulf at a little distance from Cronstadt, which will very probably be accessible at the end of the month. The approach of hostilities is strongly felt at St. Petersburg, and measures are being- taken with a view to clangers which are profoundly apprehended, though denied. Four batteries have just been established at the entrance of the Neva. The metallic reserve of the fortress was sent eight days ago to Moscow. From the 27th, the command of the town will be divided, between four military governors, and the state of siege will be applied in all its rigour. Many persons are leaving for the interior of the country. The departure of the Emperor for Peterhoff, where the Court was to have gone on the 27ih, is adjourned. His mnjesty is in such ill health that he had been obliged twice to countermand a review which he intended to pass. The displeasure (mecontentement) caused by the policy of Austria, was every day expressed more openly. It had been affirmed in some salons that the Government was preparing to place that power, by an ultimatum,, under the necessity of pronouncing for or against it. But at bottom, it is with a sentiment of sadness, more in conformity with the gravity of the circumstances, that" the attitude taken by the Cabinet of Vienna and the signature of the protocol of Vienna, which has cemented the understanding of Germany with the WesternPowers, has been seen at St. Petersburg." London, May 8.. The Paris letters of yesterday, received today, state that the most cordial understanding exists between the Governments of France and England.. The' English and French Governments have come to an understanding to take, by anticipation, all measures that war may render necessary. The Emperor has decided on the formation of two camps, one of 100,000 men, between Montreuil and St. Omer, and the other ot 50,000 men near Marseilles. England, on its

part, is preparing troops and shipping-sufficient tor the transport of such forces as may be found requisite in the Baltic or Black Sea. The desire of hotli the English and French .Governments is to narrow the theatre of military operations hy every means in their power, and to force the enemy into such a position that a blow muv he struck 'which shall hasten the period of their termination. So much time has been already lost, and the financial and commercial interests of Europe have suffered so much, that they are determined to direct tbeir utmost efforts to that end. The objct of the Emperor of Russia is to extend the theatre of hostilities, to get up insurrections in various parts so as to divert attention —to completely annihilate commerce and industry, and to exhaust, by prolonging the struggle, the resources both of England and France. Such is his policy, while that of the Western Powers is, if possible, to finish the war in one campaign. There is little doubt that Austria is seriously injured by the impediments to the navigation of the Danube, and the principal object of the allies is to clear thelower river as speedily as possible. National Fast.—The 26th ult,, the day of national humiliation cnul prayer, was kept with the .solemnity prescribed by the royal proclamation. Public business was suspended, and London looked like London on a Sunday, except, perhaps, .that there were fewer persons in the street. The churches were well attended, some of them were crowded to excess ; and at the afternoon .service in St. Paul's Cathedral there was a rush, which is said to have exceeded any scene of the like kind at any of our great theatres. The journals of the next morning were filled with abstracts of the sermons preached in the various places of worship. Collections were made at nearly all the London churches, and the sums already reported amount to several thousands. As in the metropolis, so was it throughout the jwhole ,of the provincial towns on the day of [humiliation and prayer. Divine service was performed in places of public worship belonging Xo all the different denominations of Christians who dwell in this land. Collections for the benefit of the wives and children of our soldiers engaged in the war were also general. Throughout the day, business, both private and public, .was suspended, and on many railways the grains ran only as on Sundays.