EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 191, 30 August 1854, Page 4

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Several names more or less extensively known to fame appeared in the obituaries. Amongst them were those of the Marquis of Anglesey; Lord Cockburn, the Scotch Judge ; Lieut. General Sir Richard Armstrong; Sir John Bisset, X.C.8.; Professor Wilson, (the worldrenowned "Christopher North,"); the venerable Poet James Montgomery, of Sheffield; the Rev. Dr. Robert Newton, for many years perhaps the most popular Preacher in the Wesleyan Body ; the Right Hon. Henry Hobhouse; General Gage John Hall; and the Knight of Glin, (John J. Fitzgerald). The Commodore, which sailed from Auckland on the 31st of December with Governor Sir George and Lady Grey, and the Bishop of New Zealand and Mrs. Selwyn, arrived on the sth of May.

(From the Melbourne Argtw.)

The Lightning, ship, anchored in HobsonV Bay on August 1. She brings news to the 15tu May, being six days later than the advices brought by the Noma. Nothing further of a decisive character had occurred in the interval since the despatch of the overland mail, The Timts of the 14th> furnishes a report of the debate of the Scotch Education Bill,, which has unfortunately beenthrown out. It is devoutly to- be hoped tinsmeasure will not suffer the fate of the ReformBill. The state of the weather had confined the Baltic-fleet to the Bay of Elgsnabben. Sir Charles contented himself for the present with a strict blockade of the enemy's ports, and the capture of all- the vessels- that came in the way.

Napoleon had been moving troops toward? Belgium. Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, still, maintain neutrality. The German States were busily preparing themselves for probabilities.

The Times contains a long account of the proceedings1 of the committee on-Mr. Stoner's case, but no report had been made. A reportwas current that the regular troops were to be recalled from Canada, and the army in India* strengthened.

The Ba_ti'c Fleet. (From the Times; 13th Mat/.) by submarine and EUBOPEAN TJSLEGKAFEi Berlin, Friday/ On the 10th the French fleet was off RoiiisOe in the Great Belt.

The English, on the 7th, off the Gottska Sandoe, north of Gothland.

Landsort, Sweden, May 3. Our advices of the above date inform us of the arrival on the 21st ult. r ,at the anchorage of Elgsnabben,. coast of Svveden,.of Vice AdmiralSir Charles Napier, with IS Sail of the Baltic fleet, after a cruise of several days in the Gulf of Finland, up which they had proceeded as far as lat. 50-26 North, and long. 21*40 East. After making the Islands of- Hango-, situate at tbe north eastern point of the Gulf r the fleet wore, leaving Rear Admiral Plum-ridge in his flag ship the Leopard, to reconoitve that locality. The Valorous, 16, Captain Buckle, parted company on the 19th; proceeded to Copenhagen with the mails for England. The Ajax; 58,- Captain Warden, was despatched on the 20th to theisland of Faro, for coal and bullocks; with instructions to rendezvous at GoitskaSandoe. The Earyalus, 50, Captain George Ramsay, Imperiouse, 50, Captain Watson, andAmpkion, 30, Captain A» C. Key, were sent in chase of three vessels, one of which was barquerigged. They were also ordered to rendezvous at Gottska Saudoe.- 111 the evening the fleet made this island, standing off'and on during' the night. On the forenoon of the 21st they furled sails, got up steam-, and shaped a coursefor the island of Landsort, proceeding through the Dala o passage. Having passed the islandof Rodko,-they made for the harbour of Elgsnabben, in which they anchored at sunset.

A large number of revolver pistols have been received on board the Duke of Wellington, for distribution throughout the fleet. The line of battle ships are to be furnished with IOOj the frigates with 50,. and the sloops with 20 each respectively. These revolvers,, however, are not to be appropriated solely to the use of theofficers, but are to be* distributed among the boats crews when sent away on service. Sir Charles Napier, in his flag-ship the Duke of Wellington, and surrounded by all the available and larger ships of his fleet, was remaining peaceably in Elgsnabben harbour on the 28th ult. Admiral Plumridge had gone in bis flag steam frigate the Leopard, 18, Captain Giffard, to the Gulf of Finland,, for the purpose of replacing the buoys which bad been removed by the Russian officfirs. He was accompanied by a flying squadron. The enthusiasm expressed by the Swedes infavour of the English flag has not diminished. Every day steamers from Stockholm laden with people arrive in the harbour, and the students of Aphala, numbering about 200-, have paid a visit to the flag ship. They had come to salute the Commander-in-Chief, according to the custom of their country, and to foreshadow his glorious achievements in the words of one of their national songs. Sir Charles was not, however, on board the Duke of Wellington, and these impassioned youths lost the opportunity of rendering the complement they had intended for the gallant old chief. While his subject*

manifest such undeniable tokens of interest in the success of England, the king stands aloof. A thick veil hangs over his policy, and his refusal to admit four armed English ships to enter a Swedo-Norwegian port is mysterious enough. The public press of Norway is loud and vehenient in its condemnationof such behaviour on the part of the king. Neither are the Swedish Journals silent. The movements and arrangements of the Cabinet of Stockholm, ever mean and suspicious, receive no sympathy from the people of Sweden and Norway. In reference, however, to the exclusion of four armed English ships from the Norwegian and Swedish ports, it is well to observe that the outbreak of national indignation has affected some modification of the views of his Majesty King Oscar. It is given out that English ships of war may anchor for the future in a Swedo-Norwegian port.

The Western Powers manifest every desire to pursue hostilities in the Baltic with as little harshness as possible to individual and neutral interests. They have agreed to permit the fishermen and the Russian Lodie-men to work on as if no wars were being waged. The Government of Denmark shows-also every inclination to raise difficulties when and where it can, in opposition to the welfare of the English fleet, and to the comforts of the officers.

On the sth inst., the Leopard "returned 1 to Elgsnabben, and Admiral Plumridge reported at once to Sir Charles that a division of 'the Russian fleet was coining out of Helsingfors. As soon as this information had been received by Sir Charles; he made the signal to the fleet to ' Make ready for sea immediately.' It would seem that one of the-cruisers of Admiral Plumridge had sighted twelve Russian line of battle ships in the act of running out of Helsingfors. On the 9tb the whole fleet weighed anchor and left Elgsnabben.

In the course of the Bth inst., the French squadron, under the'command of Vice-Admiral Parseval Deschenes, and consisting of eleven vessels, anchored at Hirtsbolmen, near Frederickshaven, Jutland. Admiral Deschenes is perfectly aware of the wish of Sir C. Napier that the two fleets should form a junction without unnecessary delay; He is using every effort to comply with that wish.

Military Movements.—The 11th Hussars had left Dublin ; two large drafts of the 30th and 55th regiments, together with the sth Dragoon Guards, had embarked from Cork; the Ist Royal Dragoons left Manchester: the 97th Regiment of Foot had received orders to leave Windsor, and the left division of Captain Turner's field battery had marched from Woolwich garrison, all bound for the seat of war. The East India Company have determined to strengthen the army in India ; 1000 men were under orders. It was rumoured that all the regular troops in Canada were to be withdrawn. Ab.iut 300 pensioners had arrived at the garrison at Woolwich, preparatory to the embarkation for hospital service in Turkey.

A rumour has reached the fleet that the Russians are disarming the island of Aland, in the Gulf of Bothnia. The possession of this by the English would afford infinite satisfaction to the Swedes, but to retain it would require a force of 10,000 men. A close blockade of the Gulf of Finland will be kept, so as to preclude the possibility of any of the' enemy's ships entering the Baltic. Several of their merchant vessels have been captured, one of which contained a cargo said to be worth £15,000. The British, and French Ministers at 'the Court of Sweden, airived at Elgsnabben on the 24th in a Swedish steamer of war, and visited Sir C.Napier, who accompanied them on their return to Stockholm. A melancholy circumstance has occurred on board the Royal George, 120. Lieutenant H. Freelandj the junior subaltern of the Royal Marines, was found dead on the 25th ult., although on the previous night he retired to his cabin in perfect health. His death was ciused by a sudden attack of epilepsy, from fits of which he had previously suffered.

On the same day the fleet was reinforced by the James Watt, 91, Captain G. Elliott. The Valorous, 16, Captain Buckle, returned from Copenhagen, and the Driver, 6, Commander A. A. Cochrane, from a cruise. The Swedish steamer Berzelius, with a numerous party of inhabitants of Stockholm, visited the fleet. The British ensign was hoisted, and as the steamer passed each ship, the band struck up "God

save the Queen," those on board cheering most heartily.

The Royal George and Ceesar ran into each other during the night of the 19th. Fortunately, the only damage sustained by the collision was the staving in of their respective quarter boats. Charts of the Gulf of Bothnia have been supplied to the various ships. The statement relative to the disarming of Aland has not only been contradicted, but it is now affirmed that the fortresses on that island have been strengthened, and the forces increased by a large number of^the Imperial Guard. On the 27th the captains of the ships forming the centre squadron assembled on board the flagship of the Coinmander-in-chief toj receive instructions relative to future operations. Supplies, in the shape of beef, vegetables, and bullocks-, have been procured from Stockholm, and furnished to the respective ships. A strong easteily wind set in on the 27th,and continues. Snow has fallen continually during the last two days, and the weather has assumed a most gloomy aspect. As soon as it clears up the fleet will leave the Bay of Elsgsnabben, and direct their course for the island of Hango Udd near which they will anchor. It is not expected that any hostile demonstration willbe made for the present, further than a strict blockade of tlie enemy's ports, and the capture of all their vessels the fleet may fall in with. The Tribune, Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie,.is reported to have been very successful in her cruising expedition, having made several prizes, with which it is probable she will be sent to England^

The Government of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have promulgated the principles of neutrality they have adopted, notifying their intention not to participate, either directly or indirectly,: during the conflict of the two belligerent parties, in favour of the one to the disadvantage of the other. The vessels of war and of commerce of both parties- will not be allowed to go inside the fortress of Waxholm, at the port of Stockholm, the fortress- of Raholm, port of Christiana, the fortifications of Carlston and Cariskrona, the batteries at Eneholm, port Slito, in the island of Gothland. The port of Christianso,- in the kingdom of Denmark, is closed to the vessels of. war and transports of the belligerents ; but facilities will be afforded to them to obtain in all the ports- of the neutral powers provisions and stores, with the exception of those deemed contraband of war. Unless in cases of distress, entrance, sale, or condemnation in the neutral ports of Denmark, Sweden, or Norway is interdicted. May 4. —Private information was received on the 3rd, by the Commander-in-chief, of the intention of the Russians to send forthwith a number of gunboats from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Gulf of Finland. The Vulture, Captain Glasse, and Valorous, Captain Buckle, were despatched early in the morning of the 4th to intercept the entrance of these gunboats into the Gulf of Finland. The Magicienne, CapFisher, arrived at Elgsnabben at noon of this date from Copenhagen, with despatches for the Commander-in-Chief, but brought no mail from England, at which much disappointment is felt throughout the fleet. The Amphion, Captain A. C. Key, is reported to be on shore in the vicinity of Revel, and it is feared her officers and crew have been made prisoners by the^ enemy. The Prince Regent, 90, Captain Smith, arrived in the afternoon. The Cumberland, 70, and St. George, 120, are in the offing, and will be in the harbour of Elgsnabben to-morrow. Four French line-of-battle ships art stated to be in the Great Belt, on their way to join the fleet. The Magicienne, or Dragon, proceeds to Copenhagen to-morrow morning, with the mails for England. The fleet will sail for the scene of operations in the Gulf of Finland to-morrow or the following day. FRANCE. The Emperor has issued a decree, by virtue of which the Imperial Guard is to be re-estab-lished. Although the present organisation of the French army is admirable, Marshal Vaillant the Minister of War, has thought proper to suggest to his Majesty 'that there is one point in which the French army is inferior to most of the armies of Europe.' The Marshal places this inferiority in the absence of a reserve corps—' a corps of which the material force is doubled by a moral force, based on a composition of elite, on the brilliancy of services rendered, and on high military reputation.'

The Government has arrived definitely at the resolution to form two camps. The first camp is to consist of 100,000 men. It is to be established along the shore of the Manche, between Montreuil and St. Omer, in the vicinity of Boulogne. The second camp is to consist of 50,000 men. It is to be established in the neighbourhood of Marseilles. Great Feusation has been created by the fact that 100,000 men are to be collected in the north of the empire, while 50,000 only are to be collected in the south. People think that the numbers should have been reversed—that the larger force should have been established in the south, and the lesser in the north. The object of the formation of these two camps is kept in profound secrecy by the Imperial Cabinet, but no official intimation is required to unravel the meaning of the Government. The Moniteur affirms that this large force is to .be concentrated at St. Omer with the consent of the English Government ; and, therefore Belgium must have received satisfactory assurances as to the purport of so vast a body of armed men. It is quite obvious, therefore,, that France is determined either that Prussia shall not continue her shuffling policy, or that a military expedition to the Baltic shall.be undertaken at once. The Emperor reserves to himself the command of the North, and proposes to fix his head-quarters at Pont-de-Brie,. a spot which was selected by his uncle. The corps of 50,000 men, at Marseilles, is to be commanded by General Rostolan.

The commercial intercourse with Russia has been interrupted by reason of the Imperial Ukase, which forbids the exportation of specie. Great exertions are being made by the Em peror Nicholas to come to some understanding in regard to a transit trade through Berlin; but, however advantageous his offers have been to the Prussian men of business, no merchant or tradesman will allow himself to be bamboozled so far as to open transactions with a Russian house, ou the condition of being paid,in paperroubles. Paper roubles are now looked onto every country in Europe as mere assignats. Grain has once more made an advance in price, and in spite of the cheering accounts which have been received in regard to the healthy and luxuriant appearance of the crops. The rise is confined to a franc the hectolitre. It is to be hoped that this rise, though small, is temporary. The vines have been much injured in Burgundy by the late frosts ; and it is thought that the vintage will be about one-fourth less than it was expected to have been.

Pahis, May 12. The Moniteur of this day announces that the French Ambassador at Constantinople, M. Baraguay d'Hilliers,. has been recalled, and that he is to have a command at tlie camp of St. Omer.

In the absence of anything like official accounts of the state of things on the Danube, we have to trust only to what the German journals contain. Those which have arrived to-day contain very cheering statements, but there is no saying to what extent they may be relied on. They assure us that the "Russians so far from having made any progress in their attacks on Silistria have sustained several considerable defeats from sorties of the garrison, and there was even a rumour that they were on the point of retreating. This, however, is hardly credible, for reinforcements were coming up from every point, and there is reason to believe that when the Russians shall have obtained what they may consider an overwhelming force they will try an assault. If they should fail in this, then, indeed, their situation will become very critical.

There is a rumour this evening of a serious difference having arisen in the Prussian cabinet. It was expected at Berlin that it would break up. The Moniteur of Friday contains a despatch from Admiral Hamelin, dated off Odessa, the 25th ult., announcing that the Retribution, Descartes, and Niger had captured fourteen Russian merchant vessels destined for Constantinople. Admiral Dundas had proposed an ex - change of'prisoners. The English Government had granted to the English soldiers the same reduction in the rate of payment of letters as allowed to those belonging' to the French army. The ' Austrian Correspondence' publishes the following, under date of Constantinople, May 5 :- " Prince Napoleon and Lord Raglan have arrived, and have been received with all honours.

It is affirmed that the admirals of the combined fleets have resolved to defer the attack upon Sebastopol, not deeming it advisable whilst the Russian fleet remains for protection there. Some frigates approached and threw shells into the harbour, to provoke the Russian [ships to come out, but in vain.". The following letter from the Danube is dated Shumln, April 25: — " Tho Russians have all retired from before Kalafat, and are evacuating Little Wailachia, burning villages, and transporting "the popular tion with them. The Turkish cavalry penetrated en reconnaissance to eight hours distance from Kalafat—to Boleschti. All this indicates an immediate concentration of the Russian forces. The Russians have occupied for the last few days an island on the Danube, about 5000 .yards below Silisttia. The Turks have an island nearly opposite, which is slightly entrenched. The Russian flotilla of the Lower Danube has been seen in the vicinity of these islands. All this indicates an immediate passage of the Danube in those parts, in order to form a junction with the Russian army stationed-in the Dobrudscha below Karason." — Weekly Despatch.