LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealander, Volume 11, Issue 964, 11 July 1855, Page 2 (Supplement)

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

(Extracted frun the Melbourne and Sydney papers.) A v arrival of the M arco Polo yesterday we >■ r giis) received news from England to the sth April. Principal items of intelligence, as transmitted liT -i* lleni^s ty fbe electric telegraph, were pubet* a second and third edition, in the course of y afternoon. The files of papers brought by the f rr ? , uot reat ‘h ns till a late hour last night, and J, a them we make extracts as copious as our avail* -Pace will permit. o* subject of most immediate interest is the pro-

gress of the siege of Sebastopol. That fortress was not, at the date of the Marco Polo’s departure, yet taken ; but the attack was vigorously prosecuted, and the investing force had approached within three or four hundred yards of the besieged. A scries of minor engagements appears to have taken place, the result of which was in favour of the Allies. A serious conflict took place on the night of the 22nd March. The result was the repulse of the Russians, with a loss in killed and wounded of 2000, while the French commander acknowledges a loss of COO men. 'J he negociations at Vienna had been interrupted by the postponement of the proceedings of the Congress to the lOth of April. This interruption had taken place at a most critical period, and it was believed that the events ot a few days—or even hours—after the resumption of negotiations would determine the result of the conferences. A fleet, unprecedented for size and power, had sailed on the 4th of April for the Baltic. The Ministerial provision for Colonial Government had been all but completed at the sailing ot the Marco Polo. Not withstanding the absence of Lord John Russell at Vienna, the Under-Secretaryship for the Colonies had not been tilled up till the 4th April. Lord Ebrington, it appears, aud not Air. Layard, is to till the office. The mails which left Melbourne by the Madras, on the 31st January, had reached London. From the summary of intelligence prepared for transmission by the Marco Polo, aud from various English journals, we extract the following details: — THE WAR. THE SIEGE OF SfBASIOPOT.. The assault is still “just going to begin.” According to the last accounts, the besieging aud the besiegeil forces before Sebastopol are now within three or four hundred yards of each oilier, aud continual combats take place for the possession ot the narrow slip of land which lies between them. According to a despatch from General Caurobert, of the 17th March, the French on the night between the 14th and 15th, took by assault in front of the parallel opeued before the Mamelon or hillock, which is in advance of the Malakoft’ Tower, and where the Russians had established their new work, a first line of rille pits, from which the Russian riflemen annoyed the French workmen, and had that day killed Captain Quillart of the Engineers. The troops charged with this operation, carried it out with much vigour and daring under the fire of musketry and cannon from the fortress. It was necessary to continue the operations on the night between the 15th and Ibtli, when the attack was equally resolute. The ambuscades, or rifle pits, were destroyed. General Bosquet speaks iu terms of the highest praise of the energy ot the tioops employed iu these two actions Lord Raglan, also writing on the 17th of March, states that the progress of the works of the parallel commencing at the extremity of the English right, and intending to join the corresponding parallel of the French, had not been so rapid as was expected, on account of the rocky ground, and the difficulty of covering the workmen, which rendered it almost im-pos-ible to continue the works du ing the day. Nevertheless, the lines of the English and the French had been united that day. His lordship adds that the British troops have not been attacked, but that our Allies, the French, have been continually engaged, and have succeeded, by bravery and perseverance, in driving the enemy from the ambuscades in which they had established themselves in front of them. The French had experienced some losses, but incomparably les than those oi the enemy ; the batteries on the English right have cannonaded the enemy without cessation; and the fire of the artillery, both from the land and seamen’s batteries, has been remarkably good, and does the greatest honour to the two arras of the service. Lord Raglan, in the same despatch, announces the arrival of Lieutenant-Gene-ral Simpson, the chief of the Stall', at head quarters, and that Sir John M’Ncil and Colonel Tulloch arrived at Bnlaklava some days before. Despatches have also been received from ViceAdmiral Sir Edmund Lyons, written on board the Royal Albert, before Sebastopol, on the 17th March. They contain accounts of an attack made on the Russian position named Djimit ia, in the bay of Kouban and at the entrance of the sea of Azoti', by her Majesty’s steamship Viper ; and also of an attack on the Russian fort of Soujak-kale, on the coast of Circassia, by her Majesty’s steamers Leopard, Highflyer, Swallow, and Viper, and the French War steamer Fulton. Lieutenant and Commander W. Armytage states that he arrived before Djimitriaat fifty minutes past one on the Bth of March, anchored at 6()t) yards distant, and at two o’clock opened his fire on the fort Some Cossacks who occupied the fort were soon dispersed, the fort and barracks were destroyed, the magazines burnt, two pieces of cannon were nailed up, and their carriages broken, and the munitions ol the enemy were destroyed. This was effected without any loss. GREAT VICTORY OVER THE RUSSIANS. HOME NEWS OFFICE. Wednesday Morning, April 4, 12 o'clockWe are in posscssiou this morning, by the submarine telegraph, of the substance ot a despatch from General Canrobert, dated 29th ult. It appears that on the night of the 22nd and on the morning ot the 23rd, the Russians made a sortie iu force, the greater part of the garrison of Sebastopol being apparently engaged against the allied lines, but were repulsed with immense loss, amounting in killed and wounded to no less than 20t)0, while the loss on the side of the Allies is estimated at only GUO. The details ol this important event are wanting. The arrangements now making at Windsor Castle for the reception of the Emperor and Empress ot the French, who are expected to arrive on a visit to her Majesty about the 10th inst., are on ascalc of the greatest magnitude snd magnificence. This incident is a token of the amity subsisting between the two countries. All classes of the people unite iu the desire to receive our able and faithful ally with those marks of attachment and respect to which the whole of his conduct throughout the alliance justly entitles him. Df.sperate Sortie and Tremendous Slaughter of the Russians —Official accounts have been received, w'hich state that a desperate engagement took place before Sebastopol on the night of the 22- 23rd March, originating in a sortie of the garrison against the French works. Several thousand men must have been engaged in this nocturnal combat. I he Russian Comniander-in-Chief, in his estimate of loss, merely states that the loss “ on both sides was considerable;” but the French Commander, wiulo lie acknowledged a loss of GUI) men, claims to have ki led or wounded no less than 2UOO of the Russians. We hare not yet received Lord Raglan’s account. The Russians were the asstiling party, and, therefore, were exposed to

the dangers of attacking a strongly fortified position, and they were finally repulsed and driven into the town. As the Russians claim to have taken an English Captain prisoner, it is probable that the English, as well as the French, were engaged in this desperate action, in which the loss both of the Allies and the Russians, seems to have been greater than the battle of Eupatoria, in which from 70,000 to 80,000 men were engaged. LATEST NEWS. THE NEGOCIATXONS. Berlin, April 4th. General Wcdcll has again set out for Paris. M. Drouyu de Lhuys and Lord John Russell will not accept the invitations to stay at Berlin. Odessa, March 27. The Archbishop of Odessa, following up the appeal of the Holy Synod, has issued an incendiary pastoral, Except as another illustration of the means by which the Czars, through the priesthood, educate their subjects to become fit instruments of their ambition, the document is in no way remarkable. According to the pastoral, Russia stands alone in Europe—tire only witness to the truth, the centre of the one true church, existing absolutely among the nations, placed above them all, and responsible to none but God, her special protector. Tire Daily News remarks that the 10th Hussars have now been upwards of a month at Cairo, one of the most unhealthy towns in the world at this season for Europeans, doing nothing wh lever. It was not till March 21st that the Jason was despatclud to Alexandria to embark them, instead of sending the Himalaya. The probability is, that 400 of that corps and 201) of the i 2th Lancers, who by this time have arrived at Suez, will be left for some weeks longer in Egypt, because no transports have been provided, ami this whilst Balaclava is full of steamers. The telegraph now extends all down the valley of the Danube, as far as Bucharest and Giurgevo. The line from Rutschuck to Varna, on the Black Sea, will be completed in the first or second week of April, and we shall then he able to receive news from the Crimea and from Constantinople in two or three days. The Neoociations. — The Peace Congres was formally opened at Vienna on the loth March, and was attended by the Austrian, Russian, French, Turkish, and British plenipotentiaries. The object of the conference is to discuss the principles which are to form the basis of a peace ncgociation. On Saturday, the 17th, the first protocol, which includes in general terms the provisions of the Four Points with the interpretation given by the Western Powers, was signed by the representatives of France, Turkey, Austria, Russia and Great Britain ; the Court of Prussia having no plenipotentiary present. It may he well to submit the Four Points on which the powers are to negotiate for peace 1. The abolition of Russia’s exclusive protectorate of the Principalities. 2. The free navigation of the Danube. 3. The opening of the Blaek Sea to the flags of ail nations. 4. The reduction and limitation of the naval power of Russia in the Black Sea, so that it shall he no longer a perpetual menace to Constantinople. According to the latest accounts, the two first points have been conceded, and the negociations have reached the third, the solution of which will virtually decide the question of peace or war, Crimea, March 22. — Several night engagements had taken place—the Russians having been always defeated by the French. The French arc again operating against Malakoff Tower. A French telegraph despatch says the Russians attacked the allies, and were repulsed with a loss of 3000 left on the field ; the loss of the allies was 600 only. The allies were receiving reinforcements daily. Each* cavalry regiment is to be reinforced with 160 men. The English surgeon Le Blanc, of the 9th foot, had been shot by mistake by a French sentinel. The latest official despatch received from Lord Raglan was dated 20th March, which we subjoin : My Lord,—ln my despatch of the 17th instant I reported to your lordship the progress made in forming the parallel constructed to unite the right of our attack with the left of the French on the Inkermann heights. The contest of the latter with the enemy for the possession of the rifle pits in their immediate front was renewed after dark on that night, and was continued for scvctal hours, the lire being excessively heavy, pmticularly of musketry; and considerable loss must have been sustained by our allies, I fear, as well as by the enemy, who continue to hold the ambuscades'; hut the French persevered, notwithstanding, in working forward and approaching the Manilon, on which the Russians are busily engaged in building a formidable work, though frequently interrupted bv our batteries and those of the French. On the night of the 17th, the English parallels were not attacked, hut the fire to which I have above alluded was so continuous, that the foe was cither under arms or ready to turn out. 1 enclose the return of casualties to the lath iust. It was currently repor cd yesterday that Prince Mensehikoff had died on his way to Moscow. I have not been able to ascertain if this report be well founded; but it was so fully credited as to have been despatched to Constantinople. Prince Gortsehakoff is stated to have arrived at Ptchsharai, and to have assumed the command of the army. Reinforcements are reported to he on their way from Russia, and the ninth division have reached the neighbourhood of Eupatoria. The position of the Russian troops in the vicinity of the 'I chernaya remains unaltered. The progress of the railway continues to be satisfactory, and we are already enabled to use it with considerable advantage, both for the conveyance of supplies and huts, so far as the high ground some way on this side of Kadikoi. Mr. Beaty’s exertions deserve every commendation. Raglan. The French Minister of War had received the following despatch from General Canrobert: Before Sebastopol, 22nd March, “We arc advancing towards the Manilon, which; covers the Malakoff Tower. The enemy has at different times attempted to destroy our Works of approach, hut without success. Admiral Istcman, commander of the ileet of the place, has been killed. The health of the troops is excellent.” 'I lie fire from all the batteries of the allies was to open before Sebastopol of the 25th March. A rumour obtained circulation in London on (he 4th April that Sebastopol had fallen, after a tremendous bombardment, but the intelligence was generally distrusted. The Hus.sians made a sortie from Sebastopol on the night of the 22nd March. They destroyed sumo of

the French approaches. The losses on both sides were considerable. Two French officers, one English colonel, and one English captain belonging to the 33rd Regiment were made prisoners. Accounts from Constantinople to the 26th March state that all the ships of the Allies in the Bosphoms had been ordered to sail, and had actually sailed for the Crimea. All the troops round the Bay ol Kaimiesch had received directions to take up position, near Sebastopol. Intelligence from Galatx of the 26th March reports; that several Austrian merchant vessels on the Danube have been detained by the Russians. All immediate interest in the diplomatic negotiations at Vienna had been suspended, owing to the members of the conference having adjourned their deliberations from the 2nd to the 10th of April. Previous to that adjournment, however, it was stated that the Allies proposed to exclude all ships of war, not excepting those of Russia, from the Black Sea. It is rumoured that an ultimatum has been agreed to at London, with an object of putting Prussia in a position to declare definitely its intentions. The bulk of the ships comprising the Baltic licet sailed on the 4th April. The Flying squadron had arrived at the Sound. DISPATCH FROM LORD RAGLAN. (From last night’s Gazette.') War Depabtmknt, Aram 3. Lord Panmure has this day received a dispatch and its enclosure, of which the following are copies, addressed to his lordship, by Field Marshal the Lord Raglan, G.C. B. Before Sebistopol, March 20, 1853. My Lord, —It is with deep concern that 1 transmit for yonr lordship's information the copy of a letter which 1 received on the 18th instant, from General Canrobert, announcing, with every expression of concern, the death of a British officer, who appears to have wandered into the French camp, and not answering the challenge that was repeated three times was shot dead by the French sentry, whose post he had approached. This officer, Surgeon L« Blanc, of the 9th r’oot, occupied a tent near the hospital huts of his regiment, situated at some distance from the encampment of the regiment itself. Me was a gentleman of most temperate habits, and was occu ded in reading, when suddenly, upon the alarm sounding, lie rose from his seat, leaving his candle lighted and his bonk open, and walked out : he was never seen alive afterwards. It should he explained that, shortly after the close of day on the 17th, there was a very heavy fire on the left of the French right, which was maintained for several hours. None of the English posts were attacked, but it was considered prudent to get the greater portion of our troops under arms. Mr. Le Blanc was short sighted, and probably mistook his way from the first, the night being excessively dark, for he was found far distant to the left, and must have wandered far from our position without knowing the direction in which he was going. But anxious to ascertain the facts of this unfortunate case, as correctly as possible, I have set on foot an inquiry, to be conducted by English and French officer.-, in association with each other; and I propose to do myself the honour to send you tlie report. 1 have addressed a similar letter to the General Commanding in Chief.—l have, &c., Raglan. To Lord Panmure, Arc., The following is the translation of General Canrobert’s letter to Lord Raglan alluded to in the above diapatch ; —- Head-quarters, March 18th. My Lord, —T am grieved to have to inform vou of an event, much to be regretted, wheih painfully engrosses the French army and its Commander-in-Chief. Last night, whilst the troops were kept perpetually on the alert, an English officer presented himself befoio the line of the 18th Regiment, established near the watch tower behind our trenches on the left attack. Although summoned three times by the quivive the officer did nor. reply ; the sentinel fired, and he was killed on the spot. I can h,-.nlly understand hnw this unhappy officer found himself at such an hour so far from the English camp. 1 believe that his death can only he attributed to his own imprudence; hut I do not less deplore this event, which must also be attributed to the natural emotion of a young soldier, who, in the midst of the events which marked last night, rigorously executed the military regulation.— 1 hare, &c. (Signed) GL. CANROBERT, General in Chief of the French Army. Field Marshal Lord Raglan, &c. The Moniteur de V Armee contradicts (he report that, the Russians bad 170,000 to 200,000 men in the Crimea, and states that the whole force of the Russians there does notamount to more than 160,000 men including the garrison of Sebastopol, the corps ofthe ; Tchcrnnya, and those at Bakschiserai, Eupatoria, Simphctopol, and Perckop. The command of the lioating batteries, says the United Service Gazette, now just ready for launching, j is exciting much competition and rivalry among I young captains. Three have, we hear, been appropriated. Captains Edward A. higleficld, Arthur Gumming, and Frederick B Seymour have been selected for the purpose, and three more dashing j characters could not, perhaps, be found. | The Earl of Cardigan is taking a general inspection of the cavalry through the United Kingdom. Tim noble and gallant earl, we believe, purposes visiting Ireland, in reference to the purchase of horses. Russian ships of the line, it is said, and other vessels, have been sunk between piles in (lie navigation way of Cronstadt, No soldier under eighteen years of age is to he sent to tiie Crimea on any pretext. Advices from Odessa state that the report of the death of Prince Menschikoff is false. The Grand Dnkcs Michael and Nicholas arc making preparations to return to the Crimea. T he Ist Regiment of the Royal Lancashire Militia arrived at Corfu on the 17th of "March, in the steamer Calcutta, to perform garrison duty during the absence of regular troops in the Crimea. Field- Marshal Prince GortschakofT, commander of the Russian army of the south, arrived at Sebastopol on the 20th March, to take the command p.eviously held by Prince Menschikoff.