EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 321, 28 November 1855, Page 7

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

The arrivals this week liave brought a few days' later intelligence from England, which will be found below. Tin; despatches from the Seal of War record no important alteration from those received previously. [From the Melbourne Herald, November 2,] SEBASTOPOL. The roosi stirring epismie we have to record occurred <>n the !Bih tilt., when the Russians made a vigorous attack in the direction of BalakWiva, with tlie intention «if driving back the English, and so turning the divisions operating on the Maiakoff. The plan seems to have been carefully premeditated, ami energetically acted upon ; but it was sign-illy defeated by tlse invincible courage of our army. The Russians on this occasion were repulse;! with great loss. A similar attack was made on the left approaches of the French in front of tlie Maiakoff Tower three nights before, and failed no less signally. On the night of the 22nd ult., the Russians took a sudden a'mrm, and, as is usual with them • in such occasions, opened a desultory fire on the right and left attacks Our batteries replied to this wild fusiiade with promptitude ami steadiness ; till at last the enemy's fire gradually slackened, and fiualiy ceased. A despatch from Geuerai Simpson, dated 21st tilt., contains several details clearing up some of the vague messages of the telegraph. It appears from this document ili.it the Russians continue t» hold their strong position along the Mackenzie Heights ; that they have pushed forward their outposts to the range of heights; overlooking the valley of Baidar; and that they are supposed to have a force «>f artillery and infantry at Alupkd. It is curious enough that the allies have not managed better tl-an to leave this last important poim in doubt,;>iuce, having the complete command of tlie sea, it would seem to be no very difficult matter to ascertain with Certainty whether the Russians are, or are not, in force at Alupka. J'he wo;k> of the besiegers go forward in spite of all opposition. A fortnight ago—that is, on the 27th ult.—the advanced trench of the French had renched to within 100 pace« of the counterscarp of the MalaklMif; and the Russians, apprehensive that me besiegers would make good their footing in the counterscarp, had already begun to throw up a cavalier work in rear of the parapet. By ihis new res >urce they will be enabled to make a more protracted defence; bnl it will also or.t!s»i> th>-ir movements, and prevent them i'roui replacing their guns and repairing damages as promptly and efficiently as if they had more space. To the allies the new parapet -vill afi'-'rd an excellent cover from the fire of the ?.hips, which has hitherto inflicted no inconsiderable damage upon thorn. The Russian yes-els are said to be the ciiief cause of the difficulties we have experienced in securing an advance; but the general opinion amongst military mci» is. that if we once succeed in netting a small force ot 1,000 or 1,500 men within tin* fortifications of either ihe Redan ur the Round Tower, the fate of the Malukhojf is sealed. Tue rumoured recall of General Simpson was not continued. Postscript.—-An order of the day issued by General JJiinpson announces the receipt of his appointment as Oouitnander-iii-Ohief, and states his determination to follow in the steps of his great predecessor. Nothing i:- kuo.vu positively as to the date of the next attack; but reports are current in Vienna that the news of some most important operations at Sebastopol was daily expected. The survey in the Straits of Yenikale is still going on. The fortifications of the town are finished. Our footing with tlie inhabitantsgr.s«s iirsnei every day, nnd the garrisons at W-uikale ami Fort St. Paul are never disturbed. The latter made a little in-road into i:ie interior on the 18ia ult., ami carried off 600 cattle. The

oper.uion was pcrtectiy successful in spite ol the presence of some small bodies of Cossacks who oi -i^uteii themselves with looking on. Out of tiu■ 000 taken, 400 were paid for on the spot, ii.vi the rest (particularly the cows) were returned. ! he Sea. or Azov.—From the Sea «>f Azov we learn iliai tin: destruction of tiie property ;imi buiidiu-js belonging t»> tbe Russian Government on the coasts was still proceeding. The !ii.-;uis of comtnunicalion between Arabat Sp:t •.rid ilic lottn >>l Ghenitchesh were destroyed. The Russians made some resistance but it was r.u'fi'eetual. Evfrythin<r was truing" on well at Ivsiikale under the <Hreciion of Colonel Osuiuim, alii» had taken MH-ee-sful measures for tin suppress! n .of any further disorders at lit -itch! At Eupatnria there was nothing new. Ti<e^tn»ops continue to maintain their position, nrh! Tio fresh demonstration had been made by the etti tny. THE BALTIC. The gun and mortar boats attached to the divisi'in "before Cronstndt are concentrated on the Narjien, where were anchored the allied vessels wirch were to tnke part in the appniachiiiii ojierations. Tlje mortar vessels and pun b>»ais. * beMdes baviu«r recei^eil an additional avtiiamciii oi' heavy calibre, have been painted a £Tu-v colour, with the vie*' of deaJetiinsr ihe ex■■■fiitude of the enemy's aim. The inspeclions •.if the allied coramaiuU-rs have, it is said, determined them on the following mode of aituck:—ln the vicinity of the harbour rises a clus-ierof small islets, which face the town and iV.i? of Hel'tinirfors. These islands, tou nmnertm> u> be fortified, as is the case at Cronstadt, base been left undefended by the enemy. It is C"i!!.emp:ateii to seize on these isl utds, plant Use guns and mortars thers, and destroy the i.mvu uf Helsinsrfors, even if the forts are not levelled to the ground. In the meantime, while u.e itrraiisreuients are bpin? made, our lighter v e*.-ei« are displaying jrrpat activity in the a? of the enemy's stores. The despatches uf K--iiv- Admirrtl Dundas detail the destruction of K'.uha by Captain Yelverton. of. th ■ drroyant, and his fleet of light vessels. The position bthig; deemed one of importance as rewarded the ssfet; xf the expcdiiiou, Captain Yelverton aettvmined to take it. Having anchored the g!:i: h-.'&l out o/ range, he proceeded to the n-estward of the island, so Cut off the retreat of the "iirrisim, and to prevent their recpiiinjr reuiforcemeuts from the mainland. The bridge was fiesrroyed, but upon landing to attack the piuce it was found to be evacuated. There were, li"'.vever, large quantities of Government stores left behind, which were immediately set fire to a;ui de-troyed, Chving to ihe direction i>f tiie v,!ud. the whole tillage was entirely destroyed, witii the exception of the church.

FaixcE.—Tiie French papers announce the di^c'tivevy of a conspiracy, with very extended ramifications, under die auspices, it is affirmed, oi iijf- Counts ue Chnmburd and de Mouimolhi wit;, the twofold object of promoting their own interests and at the same time of creating a diversion in favour of Russia, by embarrassing the Western Powers. A correspondence has Leer;, it appears, established between the Count 'i? Cliambord and the Emperor of Russia, with re!, ifcnce to a dhersiou in Spain, and that was to Lave been the means by which his end was to Ik; accomplished. It is needless to add that Radian gold is the mainspring of the whole aii.iu-. These revelations have excited universal indurnation in Paris, and a strict surveillance is iViaM.taiiifd a\< some person Jees there who are uoi considered foreign to machinations of a more ex'.eiidcd nature. Turkey.—The latest news received from C'.n''S.tai!tinople informs us that it is now positively suited that Ouier Pasha is to assume the command of the army in Asia. Alehemet Kit; lsU ILtsha, formerly Grand Vizier, has beeii named President of the T.mziimu Council ; •inf.; icinail P.tsha and Sarni Pasha are members of ihta body. The Turkish Goveniinent has issviiotl if:iy oiinpreht'iisive orders for cleansing hiiC purifying the capital; the Got eminent is a!so about to apply to European companies for uk i:.o»vtrncu<m of railways, m.king them conCeSMftns of the ground. ;uid giving them the privilege of working the lines. 25 shocks of earthquake have been Celt at Broussa. The choicra is disappearing from Adiiauople. —The intelligence from K;irs is that Geue.-il Mouravjctf, who was supposed to have retired with the larger portion of his army.

suddenly reappeared, and attacked the entrenehn! camps of the Turks. He was, upon this occasion, gallantly and energetically repulsed by General Williams; but the Russian General was, at the date of the last despatches, preparing for another grand assault. Reinforcements coutimie to be despatched from Constantinople. Italy.—Letters from Rome state that the French Government ha« made known, throuirh its ambassador to the Papal Government, its opinion oi a necessity of a reform in the administration of the Rinnan Stales; and that after two congregations of cardinals, held to consider the propriety of following this advice, it has been decided not to do so.